Loss Leaders
Once, in Italy, my wife and I were interested in buying a small parcel of land that belonged to the church in a small village. The local priest wanted to sell it so they could afford to replace the badly leaking and deteriorating church roof. Before the sale could go through we were required to have an audience with the bishop in the nearest large town and get his approval. We met with the well-fed man in his elegant villa, and as we spoke I noticed along with his other jewelry a large diamond ring on his finger. The money from the sale of that one ring alone, I thought, would be enough for new roofs on all the churches in the district.
posted by John M Crowther @ 7:01 AM
6 Comments:
Whatever happened to the oath of poverty? (But then... perhaps... the ring was on loan from Tiffany's?)
Jean, never knew of a bishop that took a vow of poverty.
Not sure, John C. about this cartoon. Think it is well done, great composition, well thought out and the drawing is as always beyond reproach. Maybe because I am cross-eyed with tiredness, nothing is making sense to me. Love the commentary as usual.
Never heard of a charge for confession! I think that a weekly visit to make confession is not done much now. Jean, I too thought that priests took an oath of poverty. But at the parish I attend, as we have had various changes of priests, some of them furished the home they use with their own furniture and took it with them when they were transferred. When we had 2 new ones moved here from Peru they had nothing to furnish the home. They were in a panic when the Bishop called to say he was coming for dinner. Some of the members of the church loaned them furniture, plants, etc. for the event. I had them to come to my studio and pick out paintings to decorate the walls. I have come to the conclusion that often the preists are sometimes from wealthy families that help support them.
Priests do not take an oath of poverty.The exceptions are those who belong to a religious order like the Franciscans or the Dominicans. Since most bishops come from the ordinary priesthood they don't take such an oath either. In Chicago where I grew up the favorite comment about priestly prosperity was " A priest needs a good car"lol. Katherine in olden times priests set their own salaries.roger
Lee... I wouldn't know as I am not a Catholic. But my husband is. His uncle was in the Augustinian order and lived in Rome for many years. He took the oath of poverty... however... it didn't stop him from plundering my husband's family's inheritance and giving it to the Church. My Mother in law never got over the betrayal... it wasn't about the money... it was about the lack of principle. She was a devout Catholic until that time... now I doubt she even believes in God. There's a lot to be said for simply being Christian... but that is just my opinion.
"Normally your sin would require 10 Hail Mary's, but with the discount it's only 8."
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