Archdiocese of Cologne reveals €3.35bn fortune

[trotsky]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/feb/18/archdiocese-cologne-publishes-accounts-roman-catholic-germany-stocks-funds-property

The Roman Catholic archdiocese of Cologne has published financial accounts, showing for the first time the full extent of its worldly wealth.

The archdiocese has long been considered Germany’s richest, but exact figures weren’t known because the church never published its accounts. Documents posted on its website on Wednesday show Cologne had assets of €3.35bn (£2.5bn) at the end of 2013.

Around €2.4bn were invested in stocks, funds and company holdings. A further €646m were held in tangible assets, mostly property. Cash reserves and outstanding loans amounted to about €287m.

[packman]

1. Camel through a needle's eye and 2 masters

"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money"

If the Archdiocese of Cologne has one homeless person, one hungry person, one person in need of help- it is serving the wrong master. Apparently no one in the church's hierarchy read Christ's words.

[skepticscott]

2. Guess they didn't get the memo

from Blank Frank about the new poverty strictures.

Baby steps.

[Act_of_Reparation]

3. When I last I visited Cologne...

I spent a day hanging around the Dom. Priests garbed in red and black robes were strolling around the nave begging for money to help maintain the cathedral.

That evening, I had dinner with a business associate, who told me pretty much the same shit from the Guardian article. The Church is one of the wealthiest landowners in the city, and they are not hurting for cash.

[trotsky]

4. €2.4bn in INVESTMENTS

What do you suppose they rake in just from interest/dividends/returns on that???

And then you have dioceses declaring "bankruptcy" so they don't have to pay victims of rape.

But remember, Dawkins tweets dumb things once in a while. That's something to be outraged about.

[Act_of_Reparation]

6. Have no fear, I'm sure Frankie will make them give it all up to charity.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. The Greatest Scam Ever Told.

But but but, they NEED to be tax exempt! Think of the outreach and the art treasures they MUST maintain for all mankind!

[okasha]

7. Uh-oh.

Guess this will be the next on headed for.Motel 6, along with Limburg.