Vows of poverty? Kind donation puts Archdiocese of New York in tough position as schools close

Should the Church accept such donations?

A luxurious home in a gated community has put Cardinal Dolan into a conundrum. The house, which was donated to the Archdiocese of New York in 2015, was intended to serve as a retreat house. However, the Archdiocese is looking to scale down its image as parishioners become concerned the institution is living beyond its means while closing parishes and schools.

LOS ANGELES, CA (California Network) -- Pope Francis has set a new tone for the Church, one of pastoral service and care. He has eschewed the traditional luxury of the Papal office and resides in a simple guest house at the Vatican. He wears ordinary vestments and once ordered his alms giver to sell his desk and give the money to the poor.

The example set by the Holy Father has spread throughout the Church and bishops ignore it at their peril. In 2014, Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-va Elst of Limburg, also known as the "Bishop of Bling" was compelled to resign when it became known he was living very luxuriously. The bishop had spent millions of euros on renovating a mansion for himself.

In the United States, Archbishop Timothy Dolan is being scrutinized because of the apparent wealth of the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese oversees 296 parishes and serves 2.7 million Catholics. It is an old institution, established in 1784, and since that time has accrued tens to hundreds of millions in wealth, including properties. An exact value cannot be determined.

Cardinal Dolan cannot be blamed for the financial responsibility of the archdiocese which has resulted in the accrual of such wealth. However, he is responsible for how he and those under his direction live and work. Lavish houses and offices include Dolan's $30 million residence and a 20-story office building.

It's difficult to judge the situation. The office building is a workplace and its floors are filled with ordinary people doing work. The Archdiocese is considering selling the building partly to improve revenues, but also to assuage concerns the institution is living and working lavishly. Yet the office building may be the most efficient option for the Church.

But what about residences and vacation homes, retreat houses and such?

The beautiful house in Ramapo, New York was donated by a family who could not sell the home for their asking price. It was donated with the stipulation it could not be sold. But it can be returned to the family.

Cardinal Dolan has himself stayed at the home at least twice. If selling the property were an option, it could deflect criticism.

As a retreat house it is luxurious, but it also has a lot of stairs, which are difficult for many older priests to use. While the house is beautiful, it is less functional than the older, somewhat run-down retreat house presently used by the Archdiocese. The old house is more accessible.

Parishioners have little sympathy. Schools and parishes are closing at the same time the Archdiocese is enjoying a new house.

Last Monday, the Archdiocese announced the closure of six more schools.

There must be a balance. The archdiocese needs proper and efficient facilities to operate. Periodically, well-meaning donors will bequeath the Church with lavish gifts. Those gifts do not always pair very well with the needs of the Church. This is something that Church leaders need to work on with donors. "A retreat house in a gated community is a wonderful gift, but we have six schools that we'd like to keep open..."

The maintenance of a $30 million house for the Archbishop becomes a liability if the parishioners feel their clergy are taking advantage. Clergy take vows of poverty, and the public has difficulty reconciling this with million-dollar homes. It causes cognitive dissonance.

The public has reacted by withholding donations. The decline in donations caused Cardinal Dolan to pressure his priests to work harder to obtain donations. A letter which was released in January revealed he pointed out that other churches require parishioners to be more generous with their donations.

Could Cardinal Dolan live more humbly, in more austere residence? Absolutely. Should the Archdiocese sell its offices? Perhaps, or perhaps they could rent spaces to other firms. But dispersing the existing offices might be less efficient and more costly in the long run. And can the Archdiocese save its schools? Not always. Schools open and close based on several factors. Not every institution is solvent. The public should be given a full accounting.

As for lavish vacation homes, it is difficult to deny hardworking clergy, from priests to Cardinal Dolan, a nice retreat. They deserve breaks the same as everyone else. But not every gift fits the needs of the Church. Cardinal Dolan should work with wealthy donors to better suit their gifts to the needs of the Church. The sale of a home for several million, converted into a donation for a school could reverse the school's fortunes. Some schools just need a good renovation.

Of course, classrooms are less glamorous than new stadiums or halls. But the work of the Church isn't done in stadiums. It is done in classrooms, and on the streets. If we love something we give it what it needs, not what we want. In the end it is not about our names or memorial plaques, but about performing deeds of mercy and merit.

No one ever became a saint by donating a retreat house to a bishop. But many have become saints donating their shoes to the poor. Food for thought.

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