You would do well to read some of the non-liberal discussions of the so-called “bling bishop” and his episcopal palace.
Aside from that fact that the vast majority of the expenses relating to the project are attributable to ancillary offices and other diocesan-related teaching facilities, traditional Catholic publications have pointed out that it was actually his extremely liberal predecessor that started the project and was the one who had selected and ordered all of the ornate finishes to the episcopal living quarters. At no time was this earlier bishop ever criticized for the project.
But what was certainly true was that Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst unwisely did not move to reject the earlier fancy and expensive selections, such as the gold-plated bathroom faucets, for example. As a result, the later bishop was falsely accused of being the bishop who initiated the renovations. In addition, he also flew to Rome on a first-class ticket during the period of time when Pope Francis was living in his Volkswagen (or wherever) as a sign that he is “for the poor”. Needless to say, all of this was red meat for the liberal press.
But the important point that should be realized is that this is a German bishop who, unlike the vast majority of the other bishops in his conference, is a strong conservative. He has openly condemned homosexuality and the liberalization of receiving Holy Communion by divorced and remarried Catholics who have not been granted an annulment. His predecessor, Bishop Franz Kamphaus, was removed by Pope John Paul II for counseling women on abortion against Catholic teachings. He has also openly advocated that it was up to the individual to decide when and if the use of a condom is appropriate. His fellow German bishops and the press loved him. That is really the reason why Bishop Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst was being criticized and not for his spending habits.
I know nothing about this case, and am really just not that interested.
Just thought it was interesting that somebody would claim that an ultraluxurious bishop’s palace was somehow “conservative.”
Sounds like something out of the Renaissance and the time of the Borgias.