We as Christians (Catholics) are always faithful in fulfilling our duties by giving offerings and our tithes to Church believing that we give to God, but then it’s not finished, there is a second part for you and me and that is to check on the accounts if the money is used in a right and proper way. We often fail to do the second part of our duty, because we trust our priests. However, it is not so, Bible says in 1 Timothy 6: 10 "certainly the love of money is the root of all evil things". When we fail to do our second part then we put the authorities in temptation for money and then it is very easy to point fingers. Allow me to explain you how the money is used by today’s priests in the Church.
Samuel Martin, a 27-year-old Spanish priest, has been thrown out of the Church after it emerged that he spent up to $23,000 of Church money on a sex addiction and advertised himself as a male prostitute.
The priest spent the money, some of which had been collected in a drive for Haiti, on sex chat lines, internet porn sites and prostitutes over the years he was a priest at two parishes in the small towns Totanes and Noez. He apologized to parishioners during a recent mass and asked for forgiveness. Martin had also posted adverts online offering himself as a prostitute.
"Heterosexual man for women and couples. Real photos. Well hung (15cm) to give you pleasure and happiness," he wrote. "I am open to everything except sadism. Hotels and private addresses. 24 hours. You won't regret it, I will give you pleasure like never before."
The adverts were accompanied by a photo of Martin in grey underpants. Martin was charging $160-an-hour for his services. It is unclear if he had any customers.
The Archbishop of Toledo has confirmed the crimes and told press that Martin will no longer be working as a priest after "these lamentable incidents".
We all know, there are no adequate channels whereby members of the Catholic community can make their views known to the hierarchy. Even the Constitution of the Church, approved by the Vatican Council Fathers in 1964, merely assumed that such channels already existed when, in fact, they did not. Till this day there are no such channels. Consequently, these things have to be discussed publicly in the press.
I was an Alter boy when I was small. Even in my summer vacation holidays I used to go out with priests for blessings of the houses and all the catholic faithfuls used to give handsome money to priests. Now I want to tell you something interesting, when we reached to Church campus I was told not to let this know to any one and I was given some 50 rupees as wages for that day because I carried all the goods of priest, namely holy water, metal cross etc. Now, what did I learn? Or what will you learn from this? I leave it up to you. but certainly as an innocent child I learnt love for money & corruption and for this I am suffering from guilt conscience. Who is responsible for this? Is it not the priest wearing the holy robe of Jesus Christ?
To be upright in front of God and people, it is best to be transparent when money matters are involved. Even the Weekly and Holidays collections in our Churches should be transparent and faithfuls should have the right to know the amount thus collected and how it was spent. Faithfuls are dutybound to know the details of Church money and Church leaders namely Priests and Bishop are dutybound to declare the financial details to the faithfuls unless they have ulterior motive. Otherwise the image of Priests and Bishops will be tarnished and faithfuls will never trust them as Priests and Bishop.
In our Church for every child receiving First Holy Communion is charged as Tax KD 10/- Approximately there are about 1000 children. The total amount approximately collected thus thru taxation first time in our Church will be KD 10,000/- It’s a big amount. According to me it’s a holy extortion. Such Holy Extortions were never done before in our Church. This is the first time an Extortionist priest came to our Church.
Can anyone stop Holy Extortions and taxing of poor Catholics?
Arun D'Souza.
