Cardinal Keeler

March 23, 1995

PERSONAL AND CONFIDENTIAL

William Cardinal Keeler, President

National Conference of Catholic Bishops

3211 4th Street N.E.

Washington, DC 20017–1194

Dear Cardinal Keeler:

This refers to my letter of November 3, 1994 concerning the fiscal and moral well-being of the U. S. Catholic Church. A copy of that unacknowledged letter is enclosed as information. Also enclosed is a copy of my most recent letter (3–9–95) to Archbishop Thomas J. Murphy, Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Finance. As Archbishop Murphy's "superior" within the NCCB, I feel it is particularly appropriate for you to be aware of its contents.

In my letter to Archbishop Murphy, I cited certain basic tenets of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants concerning internal control and the safeguarding of assets. In spite of their universal relevance, the Church (in the person of its hierarchy) has somehow rationalized that they are not applicable. From a fiscal standpoint, that posture is completely indefensible, and the moral ramifications of deliberately maintaining a vulnerable Sunday collection system are scandalous. I have cited a number of Biblical passages in past correspondence, including JOHN 12.6, LUKE 17.1 and MARK 9.35, which directly relate to this issue. While they have been fruitless, I would like to suggest MATTHEW 21.13 for your contemplation. I believe it applies as much today as it did when Jesus drove the merchants from the Temple. Today, He would say: "...you are keeping it a hideout for thieves!"

I am well aware of the Church's unique structure, Cardinal Keeler. That is why I put the word superior in quotes. Uniqueness notwithstanding, however, each and every organization that acquires assets has a fiduciary responsibility to protect those assets. Intentional failure to protect such assets is commonly termed nonfeasance. Quite frankly, I cannot conceive of any mitigating circumstance that would except the hierarchy from that negative classification. Indeed, the highly vulnerable nature of Sunday collection funds only renders the hierarchy's failure to protect it all the more egregious.

Like most prelates, you undoubtedly have a "full plate." I'm sure you'd like nothing better than for me to find another cause (unrelated to my Church) so that I might cease nettling you and your brother bishops on this matter. "Surely," you might be thinking, "the Church has survived for nearly 2000 years without securing the Sunday collection; why is it suddenly so important to take corrective action now, in this decade, during my tenure?" The answer, of course, is that the need has always existed. The failure of your predecessors to take needed corrective action in no way diminishes your obligation to take appropriate action at this time. In fact, the availability of modern security concepts and methods that were not available to your predecessors only serves to strengthen your obligation to act while, at the same time, intensifying the civil and moral consequences of your failure to act. Can you name even one business or organization (excluding the Church) that is poised to enter the 21st Century with 19th Century cash processing methods still firmly in place?

As I have indicated in prior correspondence, Cardinal Keeler, I'm a team player. Presently, however, you and I are on opposing teams. My team is playing to secure an economic win for the Church. Your team, I'm sorry to say, is playing to keep the Church mired in theft, fiscal jeopardy and moral decay. If that isn't a classic Alice in Wonderland scenario, I don't know what is. In all my 58 years, I have never felt more in the right, and each disingenuous and/or vacuous reply I receive from a member of the hierarchy (when they deign to respond) only serves to confirm that feeling. It seems as though you've reasoned (as a group) that an objectively imprudent, immoral and (quite possibly) unlawful omission can be deemed wise, moral and lawful if knowledge of its existence is restricted to the clique that perpetuates it. Are sins of omission no longer among the Church's list of moral wrongs?

We've all been desensitized to some degree or other by society's many allurements, but I'd like to believe you haven't lost your ability to ponder an important issue and make a clear, accurate assessment, at least insofar as the moral/theological aspects are concerned. Clearly, the NCCB doesn't seem to have any difficulty fathoming the intricacies of state and federal legislation impacting our society. Why has it been so difficult for you to even recognize the problems inherent in our historically vulnerable Sunday collection? The only conclusion an informed observer can reach is that the NCCB, as a group, and the bishops, as the heads of their respective dioceses, are deliberately stonewalling to maintain the status quo. Certainly, if anything was learned from the priest/pedophile debacle, it is that dissembling and stonewalling only serve to make matters worse – morally, fiscally and psychologically.

I can't promise you that implementation of secure collection, storage, counting and banking procedures will be absolutely painless. There will be "problems" in getting from where we are (vulnerable and hemorrhaging) to where we need to be (secure and fiscally sound). But not one of those problems will have any validity, and all of them can and will be conquered. To paraphrase an old saying, "right makes might" and this crusade is as right as any can be. As the official representative of the Catholic Bishops of the United States, Cardinal Keeler, you have a special obligation not to ignore or brush aside this call for long–delayed justice. I pray that our Lord will inspire, strengthen and guide you in rectifying this critical matter.

Most sincerely,

[signed] M. W. Ryan

RESPONSE SUMMARY

This letter was answered by Francis X Doyle, Associate General Secretary, U.S. Catholic Conference, at Cardinal Keeler's request.

Mr. Doyle reiterated the party line: "The security of the Sunday collections is a matter within the jurisdiction of each diocese" and suggested that the author might wish to contact Rev. Robert J. Yeager, Executive Director of the Diocesan Fiscal Management Conference. Does that name sound familiar? The author passed on the pleasure of being ignored a second time by the distinguished director.