by Kevin Mccourt

Created on: March 15, 2009   Last Updated: March 16, 2009

Not only is it clearly unconstitutional for the state of Connecticut to take control over the finances of the Catholic Church, it is completely unnecessary. The bill, known as 1098, would move financial control from the Diocese to a board made up of parishioners. Aside from this being grossly presumptive of the state, it also is not a valid solution to the problem currently faced by the Catholic Church.

This would be a mistake for several reasons. First and foremost, this clearly violates the separation of church and state laid out in the first amendment. Secondly, even if such regulation were not forbidden by the constitution, it simply does not provide a solution to the problem. Finally, it is imperative that the congregations providing the financial support take the initiative to make sure funds are used responsibly.

While the separation of church and state does not suggest that the Catholic Church should be completely outside the boundaries of state law, it is clear that imposing regulations as to how Diocese finances are managed goes too far towards controlling the practice of religion. As with any organization, those who control the flow of money controls the direction of policy. For the government to dictate how the money is controlled would be to interfere far too greatly in the policy of the Catholic Church.

Bill 1098 comes at a time where misappropriation of funds in the church is at an all-time high. Most recently, a former pastor in the town of Darien, CT, pleaded guilty of stealing more than $1 million. This is not a justification to remove church control over it's own finances. In fact, the case in Darien is a shining example of how the laws currently on the books are working. The pastor was caught, found guilty, and is now serving three years in federal prison. This does shed light onto an obvious issue being faced by the Catholic Church, but it also shows that the system does work.

The bottom line is that the solution to any issue facing the church must come from within the church itself. Members of any religion make a conscious decision to provide financial support to their parish, and in the end, the responsibility lies with them to take an active role to ensure funds are being used appropriately, and to cease contributions if they are not. While the priests and bishops may have the control over how finances are managed, they are there only by the contributions of their parishioners. Therefore, they have a vetted interest in instilling confidence in their congregation that the money is handled correctly.

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