Influencing the Church, Monetarily, by Dr. Jeff Mirus

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture, Nov 14, 2019

Looking at the title, many will think I am about to recommend withholding contributions from culture-bound parishes and dioceses which do not uphold the Catholic faith. That is, after all, one way of “influencing the Church, monetarily”. Instead, I have two other topics on my mind.

1. Big money and reform in Rome

You will recall the popular myth among the defenders of Pope Francis that most opposition to his policies and programs is orchestrated by wealthy American businessmen. This is, of course, ludicrous; it is simply the go-to excuse of secularized “progressives” any time a counter-cultural idea gains traction. In sad reality, of course, the prejudices of American business leaders have changed rapidly over the past generation. The majority of mega-businesses with deep pockets are now firmly entrenched in the new and sterile “gender culture”. That culture is awash in money and so “good for business”.

Surely everyone has noticed by now that whenever an American state attempts to restrict sexual license and/or multi-gender advocacy in any way, countless businesses threaten to boycott that state’s convention sites, which will result in losses of millions of dollars in revenue to the people there. No, the ship of American business conservatism sailed so long ago that we must presume it to be lost at sea.

But in the November issue of First Things, editor R. R. Reno makes an interesting ecclesiastical business point in the “Public Square” section (a series of editorial reflections under the title “The Dogmatic Principle”, but you will want to scroll down to the subtitle “Church Strife Under Pope Francis”). In his commentary, Reno aptly contrasts how the money flows into Rome from the two largest sources in the Church—Germany and the United States.  ….

Read more here… https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/influencing-church-monetarily/