Editorial

Trending transparent

With varying degrees of success, dioceses and parishes are working to put in place greater financial controls, transparency and public reporting (see Page 5).

This is welcome for three reasons. First, as is reported in these pages this week, there have been several cases in recent years -- some dramatic and some mundane -- of misappropriation of parish funds. Greater controls and transparency will reduce opportunities for financial administrators, whether ordained or lay, to fall prey to weakness and greed.

It should be said that the incidence of such theft is quite small and that the vast majority of parish administrators do an admirable job with the funds entrusted to them. That is especially so considering that their jobs have only gotten more difficult. The economic downturn has pinched not just families but parishes, which have seen a rise in everything from health care costs to heating. They're having to make less go further, in some cases by cutting staff and social outreach programs.

Second, there's much anecdotal evidence to suggest that the more transparently a parish and diocese conducts its financial affairs, the more likely it is to see fuller collection baskets. Partly this is because we Americans expect openness and transparency from our democratic government and from the nonprofits we support. While our Church structure is different, we are likely to be more generous when parishes and dioceses publish detailed income and expenses.

Historically, the generosity of Catholic Americans when presented with a clear need by Church leaders is extraordinary. A largely poor, immigrant Catholic laity gave from the little they had to create the largest network of private schools, health care and social services ever known, networks that we considerably more affluent Catholics still enjoy the fruits of today.

Third and most importantly, greater transparency in finances -- and in all aspects of Church governance -- promotes an important ecclesial goal outlined by the Second Vatican Council and still only poorly realized: an engaged laity, shared responsibility and greater communion born from greater communication among its members, lay and ordained. (This is an argument explored in depth in a forthcoming book by our contributing editor, Russell Shaw, called "Nothing to Hide.")

Clearly, discussion of openness, transparency and accountability in the Church must take place within the framework of its understanding of itself as the Body of Christ, not simply in comparison to democratic government or nonprofit organizations. The Church has a hierarchy guaranteed by apostolic succession, not a bottom-up government of the people.

Nevertheless, while Church authorities are ultimately accountable to their superiors and God, they are also answerable in a looser sense to those they serve precisely because of the obligations imposed by service.

An important component is keeping the laity informed about Church affairs so that they can become engaged in the life of the Church and rise to carry out their mission to spread the Gospel. And so they can offer their pastors their consultative expertise.

Transparency is not a cure-all or a guarantee against problems. What experience does tell us, however, is that openness and honesty helps problems get addressed more effectively and helps organizations rebound more quickly.