For the first time in a decade last Sunday I contributed to the Peter Pence collection. Go here to read about the Peter Pence collection in 2024. A few observations. The amount of Peter Pence donations dropped the longer that Pope Francis was Pope. This was not only because of the late Pope’s confusion of Leftism with Catholicism, but also due to the well covered financial scandals at the Vatican. That the US gives 25 percent of the total is not surprising. In many Catholic countries the rate of giving for any purpose is pathetic, people expecting the rich or the government to come up with the cash. For the very poor this is understandable, but this view tends to permeate Catholic societies, to our shame, with the US being a notable exception. Money from the US has long been the economic life line for an insolvent Vatican. Putting Vatican finances on a transparent and business like footing should be near the top of Pope Leo’s agenda.
Peter’s Pence
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
I have a feeling it will be. Pope Leo has a BA Science in Math degree and understands that money does not grow on trees.
Hmmm, not quite there yet w Leo.
Personnel is policy is true.
As soon as I became aware of the financial mess at the Vatican I stopped contributing to any collections that would send money to Rome. My husband and I support our local parish only. I’m not ready to change that just yet. I have great hopes for the church under Pope Leo, but remain cautious. I converted to the faith in 2005 at age 47 and in the last decade.or more I have often wondered where to find the church I thought I was converting to! Prayers for Pope Leo and the church. Thank you Mr. McClarey for all of your work with this blog. I don’t often comment, but enjoy each day’s offering!
Thank you Jeri!
It was telling this weekend that when the Peter’s Pence collection basket came my way it was empty. It was still empty as I passed it. The change of the Pope doesn’t change the structural issues.
Not ready to give to the Vatican until the persecution of faithful Catholics ceases and the TLM is no longer suppressed.
“ In many [Catholic] countries the rate of giving for any purpose is pathetic, *people expecting the rich or the government to come up with the cash*.”
Exactly: one of the most intellectually immature concepts of our age—especially rife among those under age 30.
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I am still waiting for the dust to settle.
As a demonstration of both faith and hope, I am resuming a small contribution. Our parish left out the envelope and simply passed a second basket.