Last Updated:Friday - 09/24/2010

WCR Letters to the Editor

Priests' pension questions

Regarding "Priests' Pension Fund Facing Hard Times" (WCR, May 1), we should hear the whole story prior to being requested to "dig deeper." Figures without facts can be deceiving.

All people, including priests, housekeepers, secretaries, religious educators and other staff should have a pension upon retirement. Are all these employees who have also dedicated years of selfless service to the Church part of this pension plan or is it only reserved for this exclusive clerical group? This is a justice issue.

Throughout the priest's career, he receives a substantial monthly allowance which they call "salary." This is personal discretionary spending money which at present is $1,600 per month. In addition, they receive Mass and sacramental stipends which can surpass $500 per month depending on the parish.

The parish covers all living expenses. The priest does not have to worry about a mortgage, laundry, taxes, water, gas, electricity, cable, home maintenance and repair, snow removal, children's education and many other real expenses. It is a myth to say that priests "have not been paid well." Many of us have sat on parish councils and know how much it costs to maintain a priest.

With the value of living expenses added to the $1,600 "salary", it has been calculated that the priest's annual real dollar benefit is between $45,000 and $55,000 per year. This is a very high gross income for a person with no dependants.

There are thousands of men and women who do not earn such benefits and after taxes and families expenses have only a small fraction of what the priests receive as personal discretionary spending money.

Many priests have made some very good investments out of their discretionary "salary" in real estate, RRSPs, stock market and other investments. If they haven't, why haven't they?

Many have had part-time and full-time employment with public and private organizations which have their separate pension plans, such as teaching, chaplaincy, social work. Do they receive the same amount of pension, as others who worked full time at a parish?

Why are the working priests only paying $62.50 a month into the pension plan? Is this the standard for a guaranteed income of $1,550 per month regardless of the years of service?

Are the priests who have resigned from their clerical positions after many years of selfless service and who have paid into the pension fund, receiving a similar amount of pension? Or, were they obliged to take out what they paid (without interest) to avoid having to pay them their pension, even at a prorated rate. This is a major concern and a justice issue.

There are a number of vacant parish rectories and substantial space in those occupied by one priest. Would this not be another option rather than apartments?

These are only a few observations and questions about the Priests Pension Plan. I challenge Msgr. Jack Hamilton and Father Jozef Wroblewski to tell the whole story and respond to these burning questions before asking us to "dig deeper."

Joe Gubbels
Nouvelle Calédonie, France

We cannot lose Camp Encounter

Re: Camp Encounter is going broke" (WCR, June 5).

That is the kind of headline that touches many hearts.

In the early years of Camp Encounter I participated in camping experiences with several schools. I have fond memories. The location was beautiful and probably still is, even if the buildings are falling apart.

As supervisor for visual arts for Edmonton Catholic Schools, I had the privilege of helping students and staff to celebrate God's creation by being creative.

We must not lose Camp Encounter. But if the camp is broke and the landlord - the archdiocese - is broke as well, it is doubtful that Father Michael's plea will save the day.

The situation calls for drastic measures.

If the landlord is an obstacle to financial viability, a different landlord should be considered.

Would the archbishop agree to turn the property over to a legally incorporated group of lay people?

Would Edmonton Catholic Schools be willing to take over the property as an educational facility?

I know that ECS has some financial problems, but the system is not broke and the problems are temporary.

Another angle worth contemplating is to downsize. Sell the buildings for salvage. Establish a campsite for RV and tents. You have water, septic and power.

People will bring their own facilities because you have the location.

May the Holy Spirit bless us with an intelligent solution.

John Zyp
Edmonton

Share your wealth with the poor

Re: The Da Vinci Code

For me, it's not the likes of productions and books such as The Da Vinci Code that make me, a backslidden Catholic, cynical about organized Christianity.

More so, it's the likes of very gratuitously wealthy, for example but especially, Christians that turn me off of any organized religion.

Christ taught poverty was to be combated by the wealthy.

He did not preach that those with wealth should keep it (perhaps minus a few bucks on Sundays) because they "earned" it.

Of course, not all Christians are guilty of the above.

However, the exceptions could make a good example of themselves by alleviating poverty to the true extent that they really can.

Frank G. Sterle, Jr.
White Rock, B.C.

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