 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CIRCULAR TO PARISHIONERS WEEK 41 - MARCH 12, 2005
LEADERSHIP? WHAT LEADERSHIP?
Quote from a parishioner: “They couldn’t lead a booze-up at a brewery!” Read on…
_____________________________________________________________________
Dear Bishop,
Your little piece on financial councils that appeared in St. Martin of Tours parish
bulletin was very enlightening. No doubt it was part of the process of preparing and
educating us about parish councils, though it said nothing about parish councils, only
about financial councils. As I understand it, someone in Rome gives, through the
Code of Canon Law, the final authority on financial matters to the Bishop of each
region. These bishops then delegate this authority to parish priests. The parish
priests can then appoint financial councils to assist them. The lineage is clear: Rome
to bishops to parish priests. And it stops there. Nowhere in your little piece is there
any mention of accountability to the parishioners who contribute the money. Why?
There is a need for accountability, a desperate need, all the way from Rome down to
the parish level. Let me tell you why.
Let's start with Rome. Years ago, the Vatican Bank was suddenly found to be in
great difficulty. The director, Archbishop Marcinkus, was suddenly released and
disappeared into limbo. A civilian, Robert Calvi, also a bank official, was found
hanging and dead under Blackfriars Bridge in London, England. Even though the
Vatican Bank is supported, at least in part, by world-wide contributions, there were
never any public explanations of the affair. No accountability.
Now, to the regional level. Some years ago it was discovered that the Diocesan
Director of Share Life had embezzled much of the contributed money. He, too,
disappeared into limbo. Was he prosecuted to the limits of the law? We do not
know because we were never told. No explanations, no accountability. Only a
Toronto Star story gave us some information. At the regional/local level we saw the
same thing. When Fr. Wallace, pastor, suddenly disappeared into limbo, we were
told nothing. Only another Toronto Star story gave us the information that the
diocese paid an ex-altar boy $90,000. There may have been other payouts, but the
story didn't mention them. Again, nothing to us from the diocese. No explanations,
no accountability.
Finally, the local level, where we contributing parishioners live. The Share Life
figures for this parish for 2004 as well as the general financial accounting for 2004
have still not been released. There have been no explanations from you or from the
parish priest and his financial council. Again, no accountability.
So, what we have is this: emulating the Roman Empire of old, the modern Roman
Empire and its consuls, cardinals, bishops, priests, demand money from their
subjects. But, using their law, refuse to offer explanations or accountability on how
that money is spent. This is arrogance of a very high order, unworthy of people who
preach humility and service to others.
(Letter from) DON HOFFLAND
_____________________________________________________________________
Your Eminence
Although I am not a St. Martin of Tours parishioner, I am deeply concerned about
the corrosive atmosphere in that long-established Mississauga parish. Whether the
problem is real or perceived, Bishop Boissonneau’s letter on the website is a thinly
disguised refusal to take charge and develop a corrective action plan. The problem
obviously will not go away – it just grows and gets more difficult to resolve. As any
Catholic would, I bristle at anti-Catholic rhetoric in the media. Surely other members
of the clergy must feel a tinge of embarrassment over the goings-on at St. Martin of
Tours. Parishioners are crying for help. They have gone to the extent of developing
a website to ask for help. Please, Your Eminence, don’t ignore their pleas.
Something must be done as a matter of urgency.
Your Eminence, please take some time from your very busy schedule to do
something to save the Parish of St. Martin of Tours before the media gets hold of it
and airs some more Catholic soiled linen in the local papers and on the evening
news. This kind of publicity we can do without.
(Letter from) JOSEPH AL LOBO, Parishioner, St. Andrews, Oakville
_______________________________________________________
For more information, contact: Aisling Egan 416 671-4710
Pat DeAngelis 416 809-1819 Duncan Walker 905 277-9825
Lucy Pires 905 273-6093 Dunstan Bazely 905 275-3946
Judy Byrnes 905 275-1536 Patricia Russell 905 279-9205
________________________________________________________
Email: bishop.boissonneau@rogers.com Fax: 416 207-4984.
ambrozic@archtoronto.org Fax: 416 934-3452.
________________________________________________________
STILL MORE PARISHIONERS ARE BEING EXCLUDED
FROM FULL PARTICIPATION IN THE VOCATION OF THE LAITY
Your Eminence:
I have just received your Share Life letter and after much thought have decided NOT to send
my contribution to Share Life, St. Martin of Tours. I will however make my Lent
contribution to Catholic Missions in Canada and Dr. Simone’s Canadian Food for Children. I
have become very disillusioned by the leadership of our parish priest and the lack of support
and leadership of our Bishop. Our priest has caused a great deal of turmoil in our parish and
has directed his anger at me personally. I was a reader for week day masses for several
years. That has been taken away from me. I was a hospital visitor and gave communion to
patients from our parish for several years. My ID was up for renewal and the hospital
advised the priest. He advised the hospital that it should not be renewed. Our priest is
clearly not behaving in a priestly manner. You cannot preach charity and forgiveness from
the pulpit when one does not practice what they preach. Your office, by allowing such
leadership by Fr. Beltran, will, and has caused irrefutable damage. I feel very sad and
frustrated that nobody from Chancery seems to take an interest in our
problem. (letter from) MARINETTE SHAW
________________________________________________________
Last week the cardinal and the bishop refused to accept the invitation of
the CWL to attend the Annual Convention, unless and until, Fergus Egan's
name be removed from the list of invitees. Mr. Egan and the Choir had
accepted the invitation to provide the music for the Mass at the
Convention. This was approved in June 2004. Egan and the choir have
since been "un-invited." Read on.......
_______________________________________________________
Laurels and Darts - Letter to the cardinal and bishop:
Morning mass at St. Martin of Tours Parish is a pleasure these days. We have a warm,
personable priest, assisting Father Beltran. I thank you for this pleasant respite. However,
it is beyond my comprehension, that two adult men (from any walk of life) would refuse to
attend a function, because they are at odds with an individual who would also be taking part.
Adolescents behave this way. It is most unbecoming for two members of the Archdiocese
hierarchy to refuse to grace a function with their presence, if Fergus Egan takes part. This
behaviour goes beyond all measures of dignity. Are we to believe that ordained priests, who
have been elevated within the Church, become exempt from Christian behaviour? Is this
leading by example? Would Christ behave this way? Or do the laws of the Archdiocese of
Toronto, supersede the law of God? Love thy neighbour as thyself.
Your closed minds are abhorrent. (Letter from) LYNDA DEGANIS
________________________________________________________
Parish Council
The “Bishop’s Corner” in the Parish bulletin is to educate us in preparation for the establishment of
a Parish Council.
To assist in this education, over the coming weeks we will publish information from official
Archdiocesan guidelines.
________________________________________________________
ARCHDIOCESE OF TORONTO GUIDELINES FOR PARISH COUNCILS
Five items in this document are so fundamental that they cannot be ignored without destroying the very
possibility of having an effective Parish Council. These five items are mandatory and, therefore, each parish
must observe their meaning and spirit. Last week we listed the first three items - “1) Necessity”, “2)
Authority” and “3) Selection” :
4) Whenever the parish receives a new Pastor, the Parish Council ceases to function. The incoming
parish priest is required to re-appoint the Parish Council or call a new election within two months of his
taking office.
5) The Parish Council may not hold general parish funds. Diocesan regulations require every parish to
receive permission for expenditure over an authorized limit (currently $5,000). The parish priest should not
seek such authorization without first having consulted the Parish Council. A financial report shall be
submitted annually to the parish in sufficient detail to make clear the state of parish finances.
________________________________________________________
Next week we will present the six duties of the priest to his people to be expressed through a Parish
Council.
Should we expect nominations soon for the long-promised Parish Council?
________________________________________________________
CARING AND SHARING
We have a Christian obligation to support and fund charitable endeavours. Today, many people are making a
change in their pattern of giving, to recognize priorities of needs and to identify with specific registered
charities. Here are examples of worthy organisations:
1. Catholic Missions in Canada, 201-1155 Yonge St., Toronto, Ont. M4T 1W2
2. St. Vincent de Paul Society, 240 Church St., Toronto, Ont. M5B 1Z2
3. Birthright Mississauga, 307-2600 Edenhurst, Mississauga, Ont. L5A 3Z8
4. Dr.Simone’s Canadian Food for Children, 40 King George Rd. Toronto, ON M8X 1L3
5. Ian Anderson House, 430 Winston Churchill Blvd. Oakville, Ont. L6J 7X2
6. Solidarite-Sud (Haiti), c/o Maison Alonzo Wright, 2425A St-Louis St., Gatineau QC J8V 1E7
