Dear Editor,
Sometime ago a woman and a man wrote separate letters to the editor in the News Tribune in Jefferson City about the renovations of the cathedral.
The lady wrote it was fit for a king, but lamented the $13 million price tag.
The gentleman praised the renovations writing that the grandness of the cathedral brought worshippers closer to God.
I responded by saying that if worshippers only felt closer to God by being in a grandiose church setting they had missed the point.
Gilded, showy, ostentatious temples, churches and cathedrals are not what God is about. All those millions of dollars - whether donated or not (the entire $13 million was donated by one family), the money could have been put to much better use doing God’s work.
While many religions put great emphasis on money, the Catholic church has placed money above everything else.
For centuries the money that we the parishioners have given the church have made it possible for bishops, archbishops, cardinals and the pope to lead princely lives. They are surrounded by finery.
The Vatican, supposedly the ultimate tribute to God, has amassed riches within its walls - art, gold, tapestries, marble, you name it. If it’s worth a king’s ransom then it’s probably there. Do you really think God cares?
Many Catholics live in poverty and would give their last cent to the church in good faith that it will be used for good, not some bishop’s Mercedes.
Whatever religion you are, does the ruling body of your religion require that every cent that your church takes in whether it is in the form of offertories, fund raised money, donations or special collections be given to the ruling body?
Do you get back just enough to pay the bills and then have to borrow extra money at interest? Does your church have total autonomy over their affairs? A lot more will be said about this!
Now down to the nitty-gritty. Anyone who knows Fr. Ignazio Medina knows that he did not take that $300,000 for his personal use. He had it in “safe-keeping” for St. Stan from the bishop with good reason. The bishop has used him as a whipping-boy to deter other priests from doing the same.
Fr. Medina is well respected and beloved. Nuff said!
This is what started it. More to come.
Submitted by
Kristie Scheulen
Loose Creek
