Vatican Finances are Not Good


Quite an exhaustive article appeared recently about Vatican finances. It provides at least some understanding of where Vatican money comes from the where it goes. The Vatican has been running deficits for several years, drawing on it vast reserves. An estimate in the link is this can continue for perhaps five more years. Efforts to reverse the annual deficit have been underway for years but have so far failed.

All those who make a living inside religious organizations have the same dilemma. How can they appear to be following some set of moral standards or some moral code when those who donate money have many different views? Those who contribute can leave the church or denomination whenever they choose.

As an outsider, it seems like whatever I read of work done by those in the Vatican it is foolishness. I've read every image of "Mary" in a broken window or on a piece of toast is to be solemnly investigated. If funds are short, why devote even one penny of time to such nonsense?

How much money is spent making the case to declare someone a "saint." It sounds like many days, maybe months, is spent determining if someone years ago performed a "miracle." A miracle is needed to become a saint I read somewhere. The "Department of Sainthood" could be shut down and life would go on. I wonder how much money it takes to process a saint? It's clear concern for the poor must come in second to declaring saints. 

About 4,500 people work in the Vatican. There is housing for 605 people. Pope Francis is trying to collect market rents from all those living there but I've read it is difficult if former Bishops, etc., were promised room and board for life.

If ever one wondered, why doesn't the Pope put the hammer down on the German Catholic church which advocated blessing of gay marriage, just follow the money. The German Catholic church is wealthy because the government collects voluntary church donations and gives them to denominations. This puts the Vatican on Germany's gravy chain. Maybe gay marriage is just not worth risking loss of money. 

Individual parishes operate themselves. Does it take 4,500 people in the Vatican to supervise these parishes when if left alone they would be fine? The Vatican needs to sweep out the waste.

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