you might like to know that not only could little old St. James come up with the funds for a civil suit to get back what belongs to them, but that they were capable of funding both sides of the lawsuit to do it!
In the article linked below, the Director of Communications for the Diocese says that "in light of the pending litigation …" it is "inappropriate to comment about the meaning of documents exchanged as part of the discovery process - especially internal administrative bookkeeping materials..."
Soooooooo, it is inapprpriate to comment about how these funds are handled due to the pending litigation, but not inapprpiate to spend them even though they are a principle component of the pending litigation. Interesting.
Click here to find out more
Click here to find out how the diocese said they would handle St. James funds
Click here to find out how the diocese actually handled St. James funds
Also, over at United Parishes, there is some information about what needs to take place to protect parishes Take a look there and show your support for Junction in the comments section. They need our prayers and words of encouragement.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
In case you were wondering if your closed parish has the means to fight for what belongs to them....
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Acting on whose behalf?
Recent news regarding the diocese plans for the former school building for Holy Rosary Church needs to be monitored with a watchful eye by lay persons of any parish.
As you may all be aware, both the Holy Rosary Church and school were closed in the project that brought about the permanent closure of 16 other parishes in 2005. The closure of St. James was also a product of this restructuring project. Throughout the administration of this effort, from conception to closure, parishioners from these churches were told many different things about what would be done with the assets that they helped to maintain through generations of Catholic history in northwest Ohio.
As you read the article below, please note that this is nothing less than a re-distribution of the wealth of Holy Rosary parish, Holy Rosary Parishioners, and Toledo tax payers; all in one confounded effort to enrich the diocese. The will of the parishioners in the decision of the fate of any parish or its assets is not considered, even if the diocese claims to ask for the input of those of us who built up what they liquidate.
The role of the Catholic Church in Education
If you should read some statements from the diocese in the near future regarding the future of the Junction St Mary building and/or windows, or the liquid funds of St. James Parish, or the Salem St. Joseph building and/or cemetary funds, remember this article. Should the diocese make referene to any negotiations with parishioners or attempts to solicit their feedback in order to make a decision, keep in mind that Holy Rosary was promised something alltogether different regarding their parish assets and specifically their school.
In case that is not evidence enough, the diocesan statement regarding the suit brought forth by St. James contained these two sentences in the very same document:
"The former parishioners claimed that they were entitled to all parish property, and a request of an accounting of funds, which still remain in a diocesan deposit account in the approxomate amount of $77,957.60. All funds currently in the account of the closed parish were transferred to the diocese to be held until a decision is made between the diocese and former members of the parish as to the disposition of the funds."
"The former parishioners of St. James will receive their personal belongings, and possibly additional requested sacred good if those items are not needed in other parishes, and the funds of the former parish will be properly distributed in the interests of the local parishes" (my emphasis is added)
As the diocese is still attempting to facilitate the aftermath of the 2005 re-organization project, now is not the time for complacency. Somebody better be watching the store.
As you may all be aware, both the Holy Rosary Church and school were closed in the project that brought about the permanent closure of 16 other parishes in 2005. The closure of St. James was also a product of this restructuring project. Throughout the administration of this effort, from conception to closure, parishioners from these churches were told many different things about what would be done with the assets that they helped to maintain through generations of Catholic history in northwest Ohio.
As you read the article below, please note that this is nothing less than a re-distribution of the wealth of Holy Rosary parish, Holy Rosary Parishioners, and Toledo tax payers; all in one confounded effort to enrich the diocese. The will of the parishioners in the decision of the fate of any parish or its assets is not considered, even if the diocese claims to ask for the input of those of us who built up what they liquidate.
The role of the Catholic Church in Education
If you should read some statements from the diocese in the near future regarding the future of the Junction St Mary building and/or windows, or the liquid funds of St. James Parish, or the Salem St. Joseph building and/or cemetary funds, remember this article. Should the diocese make referene to any negotiations with parishioners or attempts to solicit their feedback in order to make a decision, keep in mind that Holy Rosary was promised something alltogether different regarding their parish assets and specifically their school.
In case that is not evidence enough, the diocesan statement regarding the suit brought forth by St. James contained these two sentences in the very same document:
"The former parishioners claimed that they were entitled to all parish property, and a request of an accounting of funds, which still remain in a diocesan deposit account in the approxomate amount of $77,957.60. All funds currently in the account of the closed parish were transferred to the diocese to be held until a decision is made between the diocese and former members of the parish as to the disposition of the funds."
"The former parishioners of St. James will receive their personal belongings, and possibly additional requested sacred good if those items are not needed in other parishes, and the funds of the former parish will be properly distributed in the interests of the local parishes" (my emphasis is added)
As the diocese is still attempting to facilitate the aftermath of the 2005 re-organization project, now is not the time for complacency. Somebody better be watching the store.
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