First Contact

January 18, 1990

Sister Frances Mlocek, IHM

Director of Finance

N.C.C.B./U.S.C.C.

3211 Fourth Street, NE

Washington, DC 20017-1194

Dear Sister Mlocek:

Enclosed is a treatise/proposal concerning the Church's primary source of revenue, the Sunday collection. Approximately two months ago, I furnished a similar proposal to Gerald Reilly, Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Boston. I firmly believe the subject is national in scope and importance, however, hence my referral to you at this time.

By way of introduction, I am a retired Postal Executive and most recently served as Postal Inspector in Charge of the Boston Division (1982-1986). In that capacity, I was responsible for overseeing all USPS audit, criminal and security matters in the New England states. I have over 30 years experience in various aspects of postal finance and security operations, including the assessment of internal security systems and procedures.

Over the course of my career, I and my family have resided in several locations, including Washington, DC. Consequently, I've had the opportunity to observe, albeit unofficially, the manner in which various parishes handle their Sunday collection, and I consistently found them to be highly deficient in the area of internal security. Obviously, this condition did not arise overnight; to my knowledge, the Church has not materially altered Sunday collection procedures in decades if not generations.

Your first inclination, Sister Mlocek, may be to label this presentation as the brainchild of an overzealous member of the flock. Our Church would not be well served by such a response, however, and I therefore urge you to give it the most careful reading your busy schedule will permit; the financial well-being of the American Catholic Church deserves no less.

I will be pleased to elaborate on any aspect of my proposal and answer any questions you may have as a result of your review. I can be reached by telephone at [number omitted from internet posting to protect privacy].

Very truly yours,

[signed] M. W. Ryan

RESPONSE SUMMARY

Sr. Mlocek responded promptly and stated that collection security is a matter she has thought about from time to time, although not in quite the same light as that presented. History would demonstrate that she was the only ray of candor the author would ever see.

Sr. Mlocek referred the package to Mr. Joseph Estafen, Administrator, National Office, Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference, with a top letter stating that the author proposes "a very simple solution to a concern that I think many parishes face in the proper handling of their Sunday collections."

Sr. Mlocek's recommendation notwithstanding, Estafen failed to offer even the courtesy of an acknowledgement in spite of having received two follow-up letters from the author.