Catholic Church: More camel than thread?

(Public Domain)

When asked about material wealth, Jesus was very clear.  We are told three times over (in Matthew 19:24, Mark 10:25 and Luke 18:25) that it is easier for a camel to get through a needle's eye than it is for a rich man to enter Heaven.

Now some may theorize that Jesus was speaking metaphorically, and that this doesn't actually apply to you, me, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet - and while we're at it, the Catholic Church.

In a Slate article by Matthew Yglesias, the question is asked:  How Rich Is the Catholic Church?  Since no one likes to (or legally has to) address that elephant (er, camel) in the room, the short answer remains:  Who really knows for sure?

Nevertheless, Yglesias asserts:  "Pope Francis is not just the spiritual leader of one of the world's major religions: he's also the head of what's probably the wealthiest institution in the world."  To get a feel for the extent of this wealth, here is an eye-opening comparison:  "Whereas the Economist estimated in 2012 that the Catholic Church annually spends $170 billion (much of which is affiliated with 'hospitals and institutions of higher learning'), 'Apple and General Motors… each had revenue of about $150 billion worldwide in Fiscal Year 2012.'"

Yglesias points out that "religious freedom" has been the shield behind which many financial dealings are hidden.  He instead suggests that religious institutions be financially treated like American secular nonprofit

organizations.  These nonprofits "manage to abide by fairly stringent accounting and disclosure standards,"

which in turn "help donors know where their money is going…"

Perhaps the overburdened camel would then better squeeze through those pearly gates…   

Resources

http://www.slate.com/articles/business/moneybox/2013/03/catholic_church_and_pope_francis_religious_institutions_are_exempted_from.html

Copyright April 4, 2013 by Linda Van Slyke   All Rights Reserved