Frontline on the Vatican - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #16 02-27-2014, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

The church had an anti-sex moral theology before it had accumulated a lot of wealth. (I think) Christians were castrating themselves in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. I've seen no figures on church assets at that time but I doubt they were huge.

why castrating themselves?

t walgamuth · #17 02-27-2014, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

Here's an interesting piece on Catholic church finances:

Catholic Church and Pope Francis: Religious institutions are exempted from nonprofit disclosure rules, so nobody knows how rich they really are.

Related anecdote on the issue of whether parish finances are church assets or parish assets: BIL lives in a town with a Catholic parish. That parish is fiscally responsible and has a lot of $$. Membership was declining. Bishop decided to close that parish and merge it with a fiscally less responsible neighboring parish. In response, members of the responsible parish decided to spend down all their assets before the merger rather than having them become integrated into funds of less responsible parish.

I suspect Jesus (the old hippy

) would not approve of this selfish action.

kerry · #18 02-27-2014, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

why castrating themselves?

To maintain sexual purity.

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/1583869?uid=3739568&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21103470663201

cmac2012 · #19 02-27-2014, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry

The church had an anti-sex moral theology before it had accumulated a lot of wealth. (I think) Christians were castrating themselves in the 2nd and 3rd centuries. I've seen no figures on church assets at that time but I doubt they were huge.

Wow, and good point.

barry12345 · #20 02-27-2014, 09:28 PM

Sounds interesting. Just hard to buy. Similar to macdonalds not having a fee for operators of their franchised stores to pay head office.

If a church is sold I noticed what ever is received is passed to the next church. I never heard a case of the funds received being divided up amoungst the congregation.

Perhaps at the time of sale the church insists upon a non disclosure document so the members are left in the dark as well. The organization runs as a business of long standing so they would not miss much.

Churches in general are great teachers of charatable ways. They just seem more than somewhat slack in actually practicing it themselves.

I caught the pope I think being ambushed by a reporter reciently.. Pretty slick response I thought to avoid answering the question posed. Well practiced individual at evasion.