Pope warns of risk of corruption in missionary fundraising after AP investigation
Source: AP
By NICOLE WINFIELD 2 hours ago
VATICAN CITY (AP) Pope Francis warned the Vaticans missionary fundraisers on Saturday not to allow financial corruption to creep into their work, insisting that spirituality and spreading the Gospel must drive their operations, not mere entrepreneurship.
Francis made the comments in a speech to the national directors of the Vaticans Pontifical Mission Societies, which raise money for the Catholic Churchs missionary work in the developing world, building churches and funding training programs for priests and nuns. Deviating from his prepared remarks, Francis appeared to refer to a recent Associated Press investigation into financial transfers at the U.S. branch of the Pontifical Mission Societies: The former head oversaw the transfer of at least $17 million from a quasi endowment fund and donations into a nonprofit and private equity fund that he created and now heads that invests in church-run agribusinesses in Africa.
Please dont reduce POM to money, Francis said, referring to the Italian acronym of the Pontifical Mission Societies. This is a medium, a means. Does it take money? Yes, but dont reduce it, it is bigger than money.
He said if spirituality isnt driving the Catholic Churchs missionary efforts, there is a risk of corruption.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/vatican-pope-fundraising-missionary-81ac4d23fb2f6a9a4447df4fc83fc8f9
bucolic_frolic
(43,122 posts)paleotn
(17,911 posts)Makes you think another round of dissolution of the monasteries is in order.
Freethinker65
(10,009 posts)There are those that choose to do good, with or without believing, and there are those that pretend to believe to make money (and take other advantages from the subservient flock).
Of course, there are also self serving non-believers.
Raven
(13,886 posts)the damage is done. You would think one of them would wise up. Then again. maybe they don't want to.
Crowman2009
(2,494 posts)When did they finally get internet, 10 years ago?
truthisfreedom
(23,141 posts)Messing wit the money stream could step on some serious toes.