The Catholic Church is like the Federal government....there’s never enough money. No matter how much is “brought in”, via taxes or the collection plate, the bureaucracy will expand and always demand more.
Our small church can’t afford to fix it’s roof.
Yet the likes of Dolan keep putting their hand out-now almost demanding $$. they have their hand out for absolutely everything. I think the policies of this Pope, the likes of Dolan et al, people have had it with the begging.
Most poor of this day are NOWHERE near what the poor were of Christ’s time on earth.
I’m an old school, lifelong Catholic, and I’m tired of the constant begging, and then made to feel i don’t give enough!!
And to boot-(at least our Church), the fellowship is non-existant. you go to church-give $$—go home.. Rinse and repeat-sad
One key difference: While government expands constantly (and will import foreigners to provide a population to govern), the Church is undergoing a gradual - though hastening, IMHO - contraction. I’m sure there are few dioceses in the northeast that have not closed parishes over the last 20 years, even as they traffic in new Catholic populations from the Third World. Like the government, they are quickly realizing most of these newcomers are not here to contribute.
An old Dutch Reformed church near me (that pre-dates the American Revolution) was bought by some Hispanic evangelical group, and soon after a storm damaged the steeple. For years now (despite fundraising attempts) they’ve been unable to fix it because they are takers, not givers. These same groups are moving from storefronts to former worship spaces of large mainline Christian denominations, and quickly realizing these buildings that date from America’s heyday need a LOT of work.