According to the article, “The Vatican says it ran a deficit in 2008 as its finances and donations from across the world were hit by the global economic crisis. The financial report released … by the Holy See's press office listed revenues of 253.9 million euros and expenses of 254.8 million euros.”
Now am I supposed to feel sorry for the Vatican? Religious institutions pay NO tax, they have divine intervention from God, yet they always need MORE MONEY!
So where was the money spent? “Most of the expenses went to support the activities of Pope Benedict XVI and the Holy See's offices, especially Vatican Radio and other media divisions, the financial report showed.” So the money is NOT used to help the poor and disadvantaged but to spread the word! :)
Now I am not trying to have a dig at the Catholic Church. I have no respect for all religious institutions. There is a slang word for money and it is called ‘Mullah’. Do you have any Mullah? And in reality what is a Mullah? ... An Islamic religious figure. It is very interesting that over the years people have equated money and Mullah to be one of the same. I wonder why?
Instead of the Vatican divulging us its receipts and expenses, I personally would like to see its Balance Sheet. I would like to know what the Vatican is actually worth!!!Now as an Accountant I feel the need to give the Holy Father some advice. As I grow older certain objects I own no longer hold any value to me but they may be of worth to another person. So I am having a bit of a clean out. I am going to put a piano my children no longer play in the Trading Post. Also I have an autograph from Bon Scott (AC/DC) which I managed to get in the 70’s which no longer means anything to me, so I am going to sell it on Ebay.
My advice to the Holy Father is to take some responsibility for your financial situation and stop burdening the faithful to continuously donate more money. The faithful have dire financial problems of their own. Perhaps the Holy Father should have a clean out and convert some of the Vatican’s small objects into cash. Perhaps the Vatican could sell some of its collection of OLD books on ebay? :) I know I would happily place a bid.
Now I do not want to be viewed as stingy. I do donate. I will offer money if a homeless person approaches me in the street. I recently donated to the Bushfire appeal and I have donated to drought-affected farmers who need money to feed their live stock. But donating to the Vatican is like donating money to the Rothschilds! But I do acknowledge the Vatican financial oversight, so I will offer a Prayer. :)
21 comments:
They are no Crisco i mean no Christian Because Christ said YO DO NOT NEED MONEY FOR THAT...As all we know when you give them money THEY ARE MOLESTIG YOU.....
Hmm just so long as St Peter's isn't sold to become an upmarket shopping mall!
Thanks, Ardent. Now I do unerstand the latest encyclical much better. :)
... and here's the missing 'd'.
Your prayers, Ardent, will be more than enough to solve the Vatican's financial problems.
And then, to help put in action the encylical Sean is mentioning, His Holiness could put his Gucci sunglasses and his red Prada loafers in auction. The rich of the world would love parading with the Pope's leftovers.
It's 'encyclical' of course....
Ardent, I loved this post! A great welcome back to your blog. :)
Maybe Vatican should consider selling one of the priceless artifacts that are hanging on their holly walls...
Well, I woulkdn't give money to help out the Vatican either . Vatican Radio is rather good, though.
The Vatican is the largest Multi National in the world and the St. Pieter is built with blood money through Aflaats (Dutch word, can not translate in English) or indelgentia (latin for aflaat). They let to buy you a brick and your sins were forgiven..) Can you believe that?.)) With this money the St Pieter is built...therefore Schisma through Maarten Luther...
Been there many times but only the sixt. chapel impressed me. Would love to give my next birthday party there.) But I don't even god will be allowed to party there...Mıchelangelo would reincarnate himself to prevent that.))!'
One of the good things the Catholic church did was paying and encouraging artists...therefore Italy is for some parts an open air museum...the bad thing was that they keep their mouth shouth during the Holocast and during militairy regimes in South America. Interesting read about the latter; Leonardo Boff and Liberation theology often mixed with marxism..!)
Kindest
hans
You're so right, Hans, about the past sins. What I condemn the Pope the most, in our times, is to forbid the use of condoms in countries where Aid is infecting 2 out of 3 people and where it seems, sadly, that without available contraceptive methods, aborting a baby is the only solution to overpopulation. It breaks my heart.
I give my money to institutions that teach how to prevent sexually transmitted deadly illnesses and unwanted pregnancies. As far as I'm concerned the Vativan can crumble, and all the celibate old men it shelters. I wouldn't miss any part of it.
Thank you, Ardent. I had that in my heart for a long time. It's a relief to say it where it might be understood and accepted.
Anonymous, ALL Religious institutions are good at are brainwashing and indoctrinating, especially the young and uneducated … molesting the minds and free will of individuals. I do not have a problem with Christian values or Christian people; I just do not like Religious figureheads using Religion as a vice to achieve their own ends.
Jams, I would not like that either. It would make a good museum of antiquated culture.:)
Sean, you are very welcome.:)
Claudia, you have a great idea. I think even Bono would bid for the Holy Father’s sunglasses.:)
Nevin, there is so many artifacts at the Vatican which have been DONATED? over the years, surely some of items could be placed on a clearance sale to raise revenue.:)
Welshcakes, I have never listened to the Vatican Radio so I can’t comment there.:)
Hans, you are entirely CORRECT. The Romans knew exactly what they were doing when they delivered Christianity to the world. It has always been about Revenue. I am convinced that if the first mission into space had of proved that there were ET life on the moon the Vatican would of sent a missionary out on the second mission into space!:)
I thought that the Vatican sold indulgences to the masses for their sins to be abolished, I did not realize it was to build St Peter’s square.:)
Sure I agree with you that it was good that the Vatican commissioned Artists to paint and Michelangelo produced the most incredible work. But at the same time these artists were commissioned to portray the Vatican’s ideas and thought and were probably given strict guidelines as to what needed to be achieved. They were not allowed to express free thought. Artists like Hieronymus Bosch would not have been welcome to paint.:)
Claudia, I welcome your last comment. I agree with you entirely. These religious figures, Catholic, Muslim Jewish, Orthodox … they are all wolves wearing sheep’s clothing.
Ardent, now you know that it's blood money...it feels always terrible cold in the St.Peter...lack of spirituality I guess.)!
Hyronymus B. was a terrible conservative Dutch painter...and was paid by Catholic noble of Spain. For that reason most of his paintings are in Prado Madrid..))!
Yes, Claudia...thats another fact, the imposed ethical codes of the Vatican...but who listens? My mother even not anymore...the last 30 years of here life....otherwise I was not the youngest of 4 but one of the 10 children..))
Another 'sin' of the Vatican: they have a secret library...full with tens of thousands of books whicch would shed some different views about the world. They keep it closed..((
E-bay would be down in 5 minutes Ardent when they decided to put some books there..))
Kindest
hans
Hans :))
Who listens to the Pope's recently repeated bans on condoms and all contraceptive methods? The unsophisticated 'faithfuls' of the 3rd World countries (Sorry: we say "Developing Countries" now, not to make them feel at the bottom of the list...)
Who listens? All the Catholic missionaries and organisations in those countries who have a strong influence and are not teaching the prevention of Aids and unwanted pregnacies, except by 'sexual abstention'!!!
Which countries? All Africa: 1.9 billions people. All Latin America: 769 millions people. Overpopulated and Aids/HIV infected.
Sorry Claudia.)
Sometimes I think only from my own western pervert perspective..)
We get lately a lot of visitors of the developing country the Phillipines on Internations...one wrote me an email why I always write so immoral...and replied: ''why do you ask me an unethical question''...he/sh is still thinking I quess.))!
Kindest
hans
That AC/DC album should get u a pretty penny.
maybe the catholic church should copy the evangelicals and scream and yell at viewers to send money.
Hans, I have never been to St Peters. I would like to visit one day to view its architecture rather than spiritual reasons.
Hans, I like the works of Hieronymus Bosch. For his era his paintings were unique and intense and he used a lot of symbolism.
If those books were revealed to the world, religion would no longer be useful or have purpose, therefore they remain tightly guarded. They conflict with Religious corporate thought.:)
Hans, I do NOT think you are unethical or perverted. Personally I am angry that society has lied to me, but at least I figured it out. Some people leave this world not knowing that it is all one big lie.
Claudia, all religions are against contraception. They want the flock to grow, more people being born therefore more people to donate money or fight for their cause. Why do you think Muslims are allowed four wives? To increase the numbers of the faithful.
Ertan, the Bon Scott autograph that I have is in an Autograph Book, not on an album. If it were on an album it would be a lot more valuable.:)
Evangelists are the ‘Used Car Dealers’ of religious spirituality. Yet they still have a major following. :)
Ardent, we have an expression in the Netherlands: Take Route 66, which means: 'Don't take yourself so serieus, do normal'
Therefore I did an attemp to riidicule myself a little by saying 'my western pervert view'..)!
Did you watch the movie Angels and Demons? (What I like about the movie is that everybody drives a Lancia...my car.))!
Kindest
hans
I have not watched Angels and Demons yet, as I want to watch the Da Vinci Code first. I think Angels and Demons is a sequel?
Ardent, 'Angels and Demons' is a movie almost entirely shot on location in the Vatican.
In my opinion worth-watching.
Da Vinci Code, the movie, is uninspiring in my humble opinion.)!
You might be interested in the following:
http://www.historians.org/perspectives/issues/1999/9905/9905arc1.cfm
Angels & Demons is a prerequisite to The Da Vinci Code... so it might make more sense to watch it first... but the book(s) were much better...
TT, thanks for advising me. I will watch Angels & Demons first.
:)
Post a Comment