Selling the Rectory?

A few years back when I was visiting in Victoria BC I went to Mass, only to be informed via the homile that the Bishop had made a foolish investment decision (a racetrack in Seattle or something) and he was asking the parishioners to band together and replace the money that had been lost. I'm not sure of details but I believe the generous people bit their collective lips and made the debt go away. How nice of them.

I just read a few days ago that there's a similar problem on the east coast, only a lot more money is involved and the situation is a lot worse: the diocese needs to raise over $18 million to pay off a class action child abuse lawsuit. A beautiful piece of history, an old rectory, is on the chopping block, and if it's sold, they'll still need millions of dollars more. The parishioners are understandably upset. That's a lot of money. Property that they worked to buy and maintain -- and because of some sick person, must be sold.

I always wonder about the wisdom or benefit of large payouts for past wrongs, like giving millions to survivors of residential schools, or in this case survivors of sexual abuse by clergy. It's like saying money solves everything, money rights a wrong, and both assumptions are inaccurate. Yes I guess money can help buy therapy, but it frequently involves some innocent bystanders taking the brunt of the blame. Those parishioners had nothing to do with what the priests did, yet they are the ones who have to pay. One problem is supposedly solved (victims get $$$) but another is created (parishioners get screwed).

I don't think I'd be putting my envelope in the collection plate anymore. In fact, what if all of the people stopped with their contributions? What if no one bought the diocese buildings that were for sale? Then who'd pay? They'd have to find the money somewhere else, and that's not likely to be a fruitful search. Still, the wrong people are being punished, and the problem doesn't get solved by throwing money at it.

I don't pretend to know what the solution is, but I figure the current attempt to right past wrongs is demoralizing, damaging, and without merit.