Catholic church to hold Katrina collection this weekend - for the CHURCH!

[begin_within]

When I read the flyer from my Mom's church announcing the special collection this weekend, I thought it was going to be a collection to help victims of Katrina. Turns out it is a collection for the Catholic church, to rebuild churches damaged or destroyed by Katrina and Rita. No offense to Catholics here (I'm a recovered Catholic myself), I just didn't realize that the poor impoverished Catholic church - with 1 billion members worldwide - was that destitute that it couldn't rebuild the uninsured damaged or destroyed churches in that area without my help!

[ComerPerro]

1. They've got lawsuits to settle

and the life of luxury enjoyed by many top church officials doesn't come cheap

[OhioChick]

2. I've never heard of this before.........

and I don't think that it's right. (This coming from a Catholic) Isn't this a job for the diocese in that area, instead of the parishioners?

[begin_within]

4. It was decided upon by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, and 60%

of the money collected will go to the Archdiocese of New Orleans, with the remaining 40% of the money going to the Diocese of Biloxi.

Additional information is shown at http://www.rebuildchurch.org

[OhioChick]

5. Thanks for the link.

Truthfully, this doesn't surprise me. Isn't the Catholic church the biggest business (or one of) in the world?

[zulchzulu]

3. Anything to make you feel guilty and play on your heart strings...

As an ex-Catholic who occasionally gets dragged into going to Mass to appease the relatives, it is fascinating how a Repug message gets thrown in for good measure while asking for money...

[TankLV]

6. Actually - the individual parishes are expected to support themselves

with no help from the larger "church".

If a parish is failing, it will be disbanded and combined with a more successful parish, if a special priest/administrator cannot fix the parish's financial condition over a reasonable amount of time.

Any building campaign, etc. that solely benefits an individual parish is wholly the responsibility of that parish.

Individual parishes receive NO "subsidies" to cover shortfalls from the larger "church".

Period.

[CoffeeCat]

7. I don't think there's anything wrong...

...with asking for money to rebuild churches.

It's fellow Catholics helping fellow Catholics, and I don't see anything wrong with a local organization
helping a fellow organization that has been hit by a natural disaster.

However, my concern would be if the money would really make it to NOLA. I would be concerned that
any dollars given to the Catholic Church would be used to for pedophile priest legal fees;
or to pay off sex-abuse lawsuits.

I wouldn't give a dime to today's Catholic Church because I don't trust it.

(edited for clarity)

[VPStoltz]

8. The pope should sell his Prada...

[onehandle]

9. This collection is so unusual. Oh, wait. No it isn't.

This is the weakest complaint I've seen on DU about the Catholic Church.