Atlanta archbishop apologizes for lavish living, may sell mansion

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Atlanta archbishop apologizes for lavish living, may sell mansion

Tue Apr 1, 2014 7:45am EDT

(Reuters) - The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Atlanta has apologized for building a $2.2 million mansion to use as his home, a move that made him the object of derision and complaint, and said he may sell it.

Archbishop Wilton Gregory said he took his "eye off the ball" after the archdiocese received a $15 million donation from the estate of Joseph Mitchell, a nephew "Gone With The Wind" author, Margaret Mitchell.

Pope Francis has been urging Roman Catholic officials to live simpler lives and has renounced the papal apartments in the Vatican palace for modest quarters in a Church guest house.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/01/us-usa-georgia-archbishop-idUSBREA300GM20140401

[Walk away]

1. ...and donate the proceeds to a Swiss bank account!

Does anyone believe that these crooks will ever reform? Ha!

[cbayer]

2. Ruh oh. Looks like someone may have been taken to the woodshed.

[trotsky]

5. There is nothing in the article to indicate anyone in the RCC hierarchy had a problem with this.

Sounds like word may have gotten out and there was negative publicity that forced the issue. Just like with the "bishop of bling."

But hey, if someone wants to fantasize that the new pope is personally looking for these weasels and calling them out, facts aren't going to stop them.

[Bluenorthwest]

3. In any legitimate organization, siphoning a couple of million from a major donation

to your own use is cause for termination if not prosecution, in 'The Church' it's dismissed as 'taking my eye off the ball'. The casual dismissal of great wrongdoing is an inherent problem in this organization and it is often as wrong as the initial misdeeds. Greed, gluttony, theft among their highest ranks and yet these guys are allowed by their followers to constantly attack others as being morally inferior. A culture of rot.

[cbayer]

4. Let's see what happens.

Did you know that a German bishop was recently removed for similar behavior?

I think this guy may be trying to take action before the same thing happens to him. It is he who used the words "eye off the ball", not anyone in a position above him.

[hrmjustin]

6. Hopefully he gets fired.

[No Vested Interest]

7. Archbishop Gregory can be and has been the force for much good

in the RC Church.

I believe his public announcement of this "mistake" is an act of humility in admitting that he was wrong.
It is a type of public confession.
He could have quietly gone about arranging a sale or other disposal or use of the property, but instead he set himself up for public
shaming.

I congratulate Archbishop Gregory for his forthrightness and wish him well in his future work.

[hrmjustin]

8. Was he president of the bishops conference at one time?

[No Vested Interest]

9. According to Wikipedia, he was president of the USCCB

from 2001-2001. Apparently, that presidency is a 3-year term.
I cannot comment on his term, except to note that it was the first 3 yrs of GWB's terms, with all that included.
Archbishop Gregory notes that there is a new era in RC Church re humility and caring for the poorest among us.

Some need to adapt more than others.
We all know the RC Church is a huge target and easy to hit.

Will other Christian churches follow the lead and also look within at their mansions and holdings?

[hrmjustin]

10. I think the reality of other churches is if they sell it is because they are dying churches.

I prefer the example that the pope is setting with simple living. I hope they all move in this direction including all denominations like my own.

[No Vested Interest]

11. Agreed. Let the new era begin!

[cbayer]

13. Thanks for this insight.

I have to admit that I know little about him, but I am glad that he is changing direction on this issue.

[Dorian Gray]

12. Bishop of Newark

receiving similar criticism.

Interesting that he's selling. I think the German Bishop of Bling experience taught the Bishops that they will be reprimanded for living over their means. How much so? Time will tell.

[Humanist_Activist]

14. I would much rather the Church waste its money on this than spend it on lobbying...

against the rights of women and LGBT people.

For every dollar they have to spend to maintain these expenses is a dollar less that is free to be used to fight against marriage equality, contraception and abortion access, etc.

[cbayer]

15. I would much rather they spend their money on helping the

poor and disenfranchised around the world than on this.

For every dollar they spend on that is a dollar less they spend on lobbying.

[Humanist_Activist]

16. If they were able to do that in an unbiased and non-discriminatory way, I'd agree with you.

But they don't, so I don't.

[cbayer]

17. Wait, you would deny help to some because they are not fair enough in their

distribution methods for you?

What kind of position is that?

[Humanist_Activist]

18. The Catholic Church doesn't run the only charities on the fucking planet.

Is that understood?

Look, I don't understand you or your need to constantly appease the bigoted, while chastising those with principles. Grow a backbone.

[cbayer]

19. Is that understood?

You have one of the oddest takes on humanism I have ever encountered.

The RCC oversees one of the biggest charity organizations in the world. Without them things would be much worse than they already are.

Look, I don't understand you or your need to constantly endorse bigotry while chastising those with principles.

You grow a backbone.

Is that understood?

[cbayer]

21. Apologist for homophobes and misogynists with ugly, ugly principles.

You go way too far.

It is your inability to see that there can be good and bad under one umbrella that is blinding you.

[Humanist_Activist]

22. I've seen the results of people being raised under the "loving embrace" of a Church that teaches...

they are disordered. I have seen how they treat those who don't follow their backwards morality first hand, so I frankly cannot and will not support this evil organization because they do some shit that isn't quite as objectionable.

You claim I went to far, I haven't gone quite far enough.