Timothy Dolan chose the dead people, placing $55 million into cemetery trust funds and out of the reach of local abuse victims suing the Church. (They want compensation for the suffering caused by childhood sexual trauma.) Dolan left Milwaukee to take the most visible post in Catholic America -- cardinal of New York City - but he could not escape his choice. The victims asked a federal bankruptcy judge to reverse him, and on Friday she did. For now the $55 million is available to settle hundreds of well-documented cases in which priests raped and sexually molested children and adolescents.
Showing posts with label Catholic Schools. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Catholic Schools. Show all posts
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Michael D'Antonio: Cardinal Dolan and the Dead Lose One to the Living
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Desserts for a cause are always a crowd pleaser | Belvidere Daily Republican
Written by Natalie Conover
BELVIDERE – St. James Church in Belvidere held their second annual Ice Cream Social to benefit the Pro-Life Committee Saturday.
Committee member Kathy Dobson spoke about the fundraiser and its importance. “Our whole point in doing this is to bring the awareness that people have a value. Regardless of mental or physical disorders…regardless of whether or not they have anything wrong with them, they need to be respected.”
Saturday, June 9, 2012
St. James School and its court record
The following are taken from the Boone County Court records which are on-line at:http://www.judici.com/courts/cases/case_search.jsp?court=IL004015J
All appear to be suits for non-payment of tuition and fees.
2012
2011
2010
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Boylan High School, Rockford, IL
Following information available on-line at: http://www.boylan.org/downloads/advancement/Boylan_2011_Annual_Report.pdf
Page 4
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Despite Cardinal Dolan’s Claims, Government Has Long Defined “Ministry” - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.
Click on the following to read the entire story: Despite Cardinal Dolan’s Claims, Government Has Long Defined “Ministry” - NPQ – Nonprofit Quarterly - Promoting an active an engaged democracy.Doesn’t the federal government already define “ministry” in various programs and regulations? The IRS has specific provisions in tax law to administer regarding the tax treatment of ministers and their parsonages. As we have noted in previous coverage, the federal government and the courts have long been debating what constitutes a ministry for the purpose of religious entities looking for exemptions for civil rights laws regarding nondiscrimination in hiring.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Phila. Archdiocese plans to turn students into recruiters
More than $1 million in new scholarships and open houses also are part of the archdiocesan plan to boost enrollment for next year and beyond.
The initiatives were announced at a town-hall meeting Thursday led by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput. It was attended by about 30 high school students and broadcast in all high school classrooms and eighth-grade classrooms at elementary schools, reaching about 20,000 students.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Lawyer: Vatican reverses closing of 13 parishes in Cleveland; bishop didn’t follow procedure - The Washington Post
rulings from Rome on three closings and that he learned that 10 others had also been overturned. In invalidating the closings, the Vatican cited such reasons as the bishop’s failure to consult his priest advisers and to issue a formal decree.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
PERU: Vatican threatens university's Catholic status - University World News
Pontifical Catholic University of Peru
University authorities and students have been invoking a 1980 agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Peru that establishes that the university must conform to Peruvian not canonic law.
"According to Peruvian law, it is the assembly that elects the rector," said Marcial Rubio, Rector of PCUP.
But the conflict between the university and the church is not new and goes deeper than who appoints the rector.
Rubio accuses Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, a member of the controversial Catholic group Opus Dei, of trying to take over the university. "He disagrees with us and thinks we are not Catholic," Rubio told the Peruvian press. He also accuses the cardinal of focussing on gaining power and acquiring more funds.
Click on the following for more details: PERU: Vatican threatens university's Catholic status - University World News
The Catholic News Services’ version of the issue:
The Pontifical Catholic University of Peru must amend its statutes in conformity with Vatican norms for the good of the university and the whole church in Peru, said the Vatican's secretary of state.
Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone met with the university's rector, Marcial Rubio Correa, Feb. 21 to discuss "the conclusions the Holy See has reached following intense dialogue and numerous meetings over the course of many years" between the university's grand chancellor, Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima, his predecessors and the university, said a written statement released the same day by the Vatican.
Click on the following for more of the CNS story: http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1200699.htm
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Archbishop Timothy Dolan Happy To Give White House A "Graceful Exit" On Birth Control Flap | New York Daily News
Carney offered no specifics, but officials are reportedly considering a plan that would allow women who work for religious institutions to buy coverage for contraception directly from the insurance company.Click on the following for more details: Archbishop Timothy Dolan Happy To Give White House A "Graceful Exit" On Birth Control Flap | New York Daily News
The White House scramble to strike a compromise comes as the GOP is stepping up its attacks on Obama for pushing the new birth-control policy.
Monday, January 30, 2012
More details on which Catholic institutions are included and excluded
The appeal, which the bishops issued through an insert to parish bulletins nationwide Sunday, lambastes a Health and Human Services department rule “requiring rule requiring almost all private health plans to cover contraception and sterilization as ‘preventive services’ for women.”
“The rule includes a religious exemption so extremely narrow that it protects almost no one. It covers only a ‘religious employer’ that has the ‘inculcation of religious values” as its purpose, primarily employs and serves persons who share its religious tenets, and is a church organization under two narrow provisions of the tax code. A great many religious organizations — including Catholic colleges and universities, as well as hospitals and charitable institutions that serve the public — will be ineligible. Individuals and religiously affiliated health insurers will not qualify for the exemption."
The proposed religious exemption stipulates that a church organization is "not a religious employer if it (a) serves those who are not already members of the church, (b) fails to hire based on religion, or (c) does not restrict its charitable and missionary purposes to the inculcation of religious values," according to the bishops’ statement.
Read more on Newsmax.com: Bishops: Obamacare Rule Targets Catholics, Threatens Religious Freedom
Important:
Bishop Doran’s Letter to parishes this January 28-28, 2012
Bishop Doran’s statement appears to be ignoring the basic exemption granted by U.S. Department of Health--Churches, Church run grade and high schools are exempt from the regulations. Only church affiliated colleges, hospitals and health organizations are included.
See the posting which follows( http://boonecountycatholics.blogspot.com/2012/01/phoenix-diocese-reacts-to-birth-control.html )—“Specifically, the rule would exempt religious groups that have religious education as their purpose, that "primarily employ" people who share the groups' religious tenets, that primarily serve those whose share the religious tenets, and that are non-profit organizations.”
Click on the photocopy to enlarge:
The above letter is available on the internet at: http://www.rockforddiocese.org/pdfs/Bishop-Letter-Re-DHHS.pdf
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Financial Reporting at St. James in a previous era
The following multi-page financial/sacramental report was supplied to all parishioners in September, 2000. The income statements are as of June 30, 2000 and for the two previous years It so interesting to see the detail of the numbers and the nature of the pastor’s comments.
In 2000 there were 1,600 registered families.(see page 2, orange) Per our most recent bulletin’s statement there are now 1873.
Click on the photocopy to enlarge:
St. James’ Reporting 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
St. James School on You Tube
To see the clip shown below click on the following: http://youtu.be/wMjq0VJ1tmU
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Observer’s official story on the St. Bernadette (Rockford) tuition rollback
The following story is taken from: http://observer.rockforddiocese.org/Archives/2011Archives/January142011/StBernadetterollsbacktuitionprices/tabid/3361/Default.html?link=3361&tabid=3359
St. Bernadette rolls back tuition, urges families to try Catholic school
By Penny Wiegert, Editor
ROCKFORD—News today about the economy usually includes the word “increase.” However, in a bold move to boost enrollment and keep a high quality west-side Catholic School viable, St. Bernadette pastor Father Kenneth Stachyra and school principal Elizabeth Heitkamp are using the words “decrease” and “roll-back.”
Last month principal Heitkamp presented a plan that decreases tuition rates at the school by almost 40 percent. In a letter to parents she said, “I am very excited to announce that St. Bernadette Catholic School is making Catholic Education more affordable for families. We have instituted a tuition roll back that takes our tuition rates back 10 years and reduces our current tuition by up to 40 percent!”
Heitkamp went on in the letter to explain how the school can afford to reduce tuition in such a sluggish economy.
“Our enrollment is decreasing, making it harder for us to continue to offer the necessary services to our students.
“By helping families to be able to afford our tuition, we are helping increase our enrollment. Increasing our enrollment allows us to maintain the quality of education we have given for over 50 years,” she wrote.
In a presentation to the parish and to parents, Heitkamp said adjustments to the budget had been made in the last few years to accommodate the lower enrollments and to maintain a reasonable budget for the parish, but she said, “we needed a new approach.”
Both St. Bernadette parish and school have seen a decrease in parishioners and students in the past ten years. According to Dr. Michael Cieslak, director of the diocesan Office for Planning and Research, contributing to that decrease are the neighborhood demographics within the boundaries of the parish and school.
Cieslak reports that the neighborhood surrounding the parish has changed significantly due in part to the aging population, decreased family size and the severe downturn of the local economy.
The bottom-line, Heitkamp says, is that the school needs more students.
The Parish Finance Council, Father Strachyra, the Catholic Education Office, and even Bishop Thomas G. Doran have all given this tuition reduction plan their blessing and believe it is a creative way to get more students enrolled.
The new tuition structure is as follows:
Parish Families (including west-side parishes without schools)
1 child $1750
2 children $3500
3 or more $5250
Non Parish Families
1 child $2500
2 children $5000
Each additional child $2500
The new tuition rate will take effect for students enrolled for the 2011-12 school year. The new tuition rate is a price guarantee for two years.
“Tuition may increase slightly after that two-year period. But it is not our intent to return to our previous tuition levels,” Heitkamp said.
“Our finance council is trying to adjust to our demographic and our current demographic will not support the current rate. The support from the finance council and our parish is amazing and I am so appreciative,” she said.
Heitkamp has been principal at St. Bernadette for the past seven years and she has tried many creative and aggressive ways to recruit new students including marketing on television, radio and through print advertising. But the issue always comes back to finances she said.
“The Rockford metro area is fortunate to include several Catholic schools and we are thankful for the support of the parents who choose Catholic education and encourage them to continue in their current Catholic school. The object of St. Bernadette’s new tuition plan is not to pull students from their current parish home. The plan is to attract Catholic students from the public schools in and around St. Bernadette who may not have found the school affordable in the past and to help bring back students and families that may have left St. Bernadette for financial reasons,” said Superintendent of Diocesan Catholic Schools, Michael Kagan.
“If people walk the halls and talk to the staff and experience the positive atmosphere, I believe it will convince them to choose Catholic Schools,” Kagan said.
For a complete break-down of tuition, St. Bernadette boundaries and contact information for St. Bernadette school visit www.stbernadetterockford.com
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Many diocesan parishes disclose their school subsidies
St. Peter’s Cathedral, Rockford, Il—Their bulletin
Sunday, October 2, 2011
St. James’ FY 2011 Financial Reports
The following financial information was an insert to the bulletin for 10-2-2011. For your convenience the balance sheet for 6-30-2010 is also supplied.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
St. Patrick’s of St. Charles: Parish expansion maintains two churches in one parish
About Us
Saint Patrick is a Roman Catholic Parish located in Saint Charles, Illinois. The first mass on the current site was celebrated in 1834 and building of the first stone church, "old St. Pats", was commenced in 1851. At right is the current "downtown" church and rectory which were constructed in 1912. The next door school was completed in 1930. Pictured below is the Crane Road church dedicated in 1991 and is on the same campus as the planned new school, offices and rectory. (See Capital Campaign.)
Today St. Patrick Parish has two churches and campuses and a registered membership of more than 4,500 families consisting of more than 16,000 parishioners.
We invite you to visit our web site regularly to learn more about the spiritual life available to you as a Catholic at Saint Patrick.
Directions to Downtown Church
From IL Route 64 and the Fox River in downtown St. Charles, IL, go four blocks west and turn right (north) at 4th Street. Proceed for one block to Cedar Street. The church is located at the corner of 4th & Cedar, 400 Cedar Street, St. Charles, IL 60174. http://www.mapquest.com/mq/2-Ettl
Directions to Crane Road Church
From the intersection of IL Route 64 and Randall Road on the west side of St. Charles, IL, proceed 3 miles north to Bolcum Road. Turn left (west) on Bolcum road to the first intersection. Turn right (north) on Crane Road and proceed about a half mile. The church is on your right, 6N491 Crane Road, St. Charles, IL 60175. http://www.mapquest.com/mq/8-b5zOrWJC
St. Patrick’s School:
8/28/11: School Days
Dear Parishioners,
School days, school days, dear ole golden rule days... it’s hard to believe that the doors of our new school will be opening on Wednesday, August 31 for the start of school year 2011-2012. It is mind boggling as I look back and realize what had to be done to make this day possible.
An obvious and an extremely important example... notice the yellow fire hydrants around the school. Those hydrants are visible testimony to the fact that we have water and sewer service to the school. Those hydrants are visible testimony to the countless meetings we had with South Elgin, with Otter Creek Water Reclamation District, and with the Lutherans from whom we needed to purchase land to give us a contiguous line of annexed property to South Elgin. Those hydrants are visible testimony to the results that persistence and perseverance can deliver. And this is but one of the many examples that could be given of what had to be done to making opening day possible.
All of those examples, however, pale in comparison to what will now be taking place in that school... the education and formation of our children. And, as that goal is accomplished year after year, decade after decade, we can then be rightfully proud of what it took to open the doors of that school. So, now it is up to the administrators and the teachers to carry on from where we left off. And, judging from what I have seen happening in that school these past many weeks, I am confident that that goal will be achieved. I want to publicly commend the administrators, the teachers, the staff and maintenance for the wonderful cooperation we received from them in readying the school for its opening. It could not have happened without you... thank you and God bless you!
You must also be aware that all our Religious Education classes will be taught in that building. The offices for the R.E. directors and their staff are located in that building, giving them wonderful contact with R.E. catechists and the students. Someone from the R.E. department will be speaking at all the masses this coming weekend, August 27/28. You are also able to find out more information about the R.E. programs by visiting our website and clicking on Religious Education.
Here again, much cooperation and coordination had to take place for the relocation of R.E. to the new building. Previously, our directors were located in three different locations with their support staffs in two different locations. Obviously, the transition was not easy, but now that it is complete, the benefits make the efforts very worthwhile. I want to express my thanks and appreciation to the R.E. directors, their staffs, and the catechists for their understanding and support as they moved from “wherever” to the new building... God bless you!
St. Patrick Parish Capital Campaign
BUILDING TO DO GOD’S WORK!
To meet the demands of a growing parish, we began the program, Building To Do God’s Work. The demands for worship space were met in 1991 with the construction of Crane Road Church. It is now time to meet the demands for more office space, housing for the priests, and education space. The diocese has given permission to complete the project in two phases. Phase I - offices and rectory. Phase II - education building. We are currently working on Phase I.
PHASE I - UPDATE The building phase has been essentially completed and the offices and rectory are now occupied. This phase was completed in May, 2009.
Phase II - UPDATE Currently the targeted school opening is fall of 2011.
FINANCIAL UPDATE - As of January 13, 2010
GOAL…………………………………$ 12,000,000.00
AMOUNT PLEDGED……………$ 11,248,922.16
PAYMENTS ON PLEDGES………$7,804,398.69
DONATIONS W/O A PLEDGE……$ 484,796.08
Read the original Campaign Project information here: Capital Campaign Project
Questions & Answers
Q. HOW MUCH WILL OUR BUILDING PLANS COST?
A. At this time our best estimate is $19,230,000.
Q. HOW IS THE PROJECT GOING TO BE FUNDED?
A. In addition to the monies raised from the capital campaign we will also use current and future parish savings with the balance to be funded through short-term debt.
Q. WHY ARE NEW FACILITIES NEEDED NOW?
A. St. Patrick Parish has doubled over the past 14 years to 4500 families. To put it simply: we need more space for educational, administrative, social, and residential needs. We also have an obligation to keep our present facilities in the best shape possible. The longer we wait the more the project will cost.
Q. WHO AUTHORIZED THIS PROJECT?
A. Under the direction of our Parish Pastoral Council, Finance Council and Msgr. Linster a plan was developed as a guideline to address our space needs. A feasibility study showed an overwhelming need and desire for this campaign and Bishop Doran gave his approval to proceed with the project.
Q. WHY DO WE NEED A LARGER EDUCATIONAL FACILITY?
A. We have a greater demand for Catholic school and CCD education of our children because of the tremendous growth of St. Patrick Parish.
Q. CAN THE SCHOOL BE BUILT FIRST?
A. The rectory and parish office building will be built first in order to address the most immediate and critical needs for the parish. The school will require substantially more funding. With the completion of a successful campaign the school will be built shortly after the rectory and parish office.
Q. WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THE DOWNTOWN FACILITIES?
A. This campaign does not include a financial component for the alteration of the downtown facilities. The liturgical functions at the Downtown Church will not be affected by this project.
Q. WILL THE PARISH BE SPLIT INTO TWO PARISHES?
A. Bishop Doran has made it clear that this will remain one parish.
Q. WHEN WILL CONSTRUCTION BEGIN?
A. Construction will begin soon after our capital campaign is completed although exact project timelines are still to be determined.
Q. ARE PARISHIONERS GOING TO BE ASSESSED?
A. Absolutely not! Guidelines for budgeted giving may be suggested, but the amount is strictly up to the individual parishioners.
Q. WHO WILL BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE?
A. All registered household in St. Patrick Parish should participate in the campaign. Every household has the capacity to participate at some level although maybe not at the requested amount.
Q. ARE ST. JOHN NEUMANN PARISH SCHOOL PARENTS GOING TO BE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE CAMPAIGN?
A. No - but some may voluntarily contribute to the campaign.
Q. MUST I MAKE A PLEDGE?
A. All baptized believers are members of the Body of Christ alive and at work in today's world. Nevertheless, this Body, the Church, is a voluntary organization. All gifts are welcome. However, one-time, out of pocket giving will not enable us to meet our goal. Because our goal is very ambitious, parishioners are urged to increase the effectiveness of their gifts by pledging and budgeting their gift over a five year pledge period.
Q. WHAT IF I DON'T LIKE LONG-TERM PLEDGES?
A. One purpose of our capital campaign is to give the parish a sense of cash flow over the next five years so it may better plan for the future. In addition, pledges enable donors to maximize their investment. It would be virtually impossible to raise our minimum goal of $12,000,000 in one-time gifts, or to call on nearly 4,500 families each year for specific priorities.
Q. WHAT'S INVOLVED IN MAKING A PLEDGE?
A. All parish households not yet contacted will receive a pledge packet in the mail this week. Simply enter the total amount pledged over a five year period, how it will be paid, and sign the pledge card. A 10% payment with your pledge is suggested but not necessary. Your signing of a pledge card does not constitute a legal obligation, but a moral intent. In the event of a change in your economic status, your pledge may be altered. Completed pledge cards can be mailed to the parish in the enclosed envelope or dropped in a collection basket.
Q. WHAT IS MY SHARE AND HOW WAS THE REQUEST AMOUNT DETERMINED?
A. Your pledge should be based on the dictates of your conscience. Only you know your financial situation and capability. The requested amount is only a suggestion. No give is too small … or too large.
Q. SHOULD I GIVE LESS TO MY WEEKLY CONTRIBUTION IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS CAMPAIGN?
A. No. The success of the Building to do God's Work capital campaign hinges on your being faithful to your weekly commitment of parish support. Our campaign invites you to make a five year pledges over and above your present weekly giving. We ask you to consider the suggested giving guidelines in this material.
Q. WHAT CONSTITUTES A GIFT?
A. Any negotiable assets of realistic market value may be given. Stocks, commodities, insurance, real estate, or bonds are alternatives to cash.
Q. ARE THERE MEMORIALS AND NAMING OPPORTUNITIES?
A. YES. We welcome these gifts and will work with you to make sure the appropriate recognition is given.
Q. IS MY GIFT TAX DEDUCTIBLE?
A. Yes, all contributions to our campaign are deductible in accordance with Federal and Illinois law.
Q. WHEN AND HOW WILL PLEDGES BE PAID?
A. You have the option of paying your pledge annually, semi-annually, quarterly, monthly, or in any other way you desire. Pledges can be paid using the gold envelopes now included in your weekly envelope packet received monthly or through EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) directly from your bank account.
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