The following comes from a Dec. 3 story in the Stockton Record.
Out of options, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Stockton is expected to file for bankruptcy early next year.
Bishop Stephen Blaire has issued a letter notifying the six-county diocese’s 250,000 members that a final decision is likely “after the first of the year.”
Blaire said that after months of research, “no viable option has emerged other than reorganizing financially under the protection of bankruptcy court.”
The letter was distributed Sunday to the diocese’s 35 parishes and 14 missions.
Blaire also encouraged various auxiliary Catholic organizations to obtain legal advice to be ready for possible asset claims that could be made by creditors. He said they “need to be prepared in case they are challenged, as has happened in other dioceses.”
Chapter 11 protection is needed because of the financial drain from continuing settlements stemming from sex-abuse lawsuits. Through 2010, the Stockton diocese had settled 22 such cases at a cost of $18.7 million.
Blaire said in September the diocese no longer had the resources to meet the obligations of current or pending lawsuits.
Talk of bankruptcy first emerged in June….
To read the entire story, click here.
Up until a two months ago, Bishop Blaire was pushing his left wing agenda at the USCCB as Chair of their Social Justice Committee.
He never asked the Federal Government to pay its debts, by cutting government spending and waste. The US government is now $17.2 TRILLION dollars in debt.
The State of CA is now $418 BILLION dollars in debt.
Bishop Blaire merely kept his hand out asking that more and more money that the Federal Government did not have – be spent. Just keep on spending over and over again.
Blaire is another Bishop (and most of his Diocese Priests) who do not encourage people to read and study and adhere to the “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition”.
If he did, he probably would know what it says.
CCC: ” 2411 Contracts are subject to commutative justice which regulates exchanges between persons and between institutions in accordance with a strict respect for their rights.
Commutative justice obliges strictly;
it requires safeguarding property rights, PAYING DEBTS, and fulfilling obligations freely contracted.
WITHOUT COMMUTATIVE JUSTICE, NO OTHER FORM OF JUSTICE IS POSSIBLE.
One distinguishes commutative justice from legal justice which concerns what the citizen owes in fairness to the community,
and from distributive justice which regulates what the community owes its citizens in proportion to their contributions and needs.”
What a wonderful example he is setting about the ‘Catholic Church’ in Stockton for the rest of the world to see !
There is no private sin. Sin affects all of us.
Douay-Rheims Bible
He that soweth iniquity shall reap evils, and with the rod of his anger he shall be consumed. …Proverbs 22:8
The Gospel According to St. Matthew -Douay-Rheims
Chapter Seven
16] By their fruits you shall know them. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? [17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit, and the evil tree bringeth forth evil fruit. [18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring forth good fruit. [19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit, shall be cut down, and shall be cast into the fire. [20] Wherefore by their fruits you shall know them.
[21] Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. [22] Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? [23] And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.
What does your comment have to do with the Stockton pending Bankruptcy? Also, do not be surprised if Oakland follows soon……
Bisop Blaire has been morally bankrupt for years. He is a clone of CardinalMahony. Whenever a diocese declares bankruptcy, the bishop should resign—-withiut pension.
How true, these are prideful and despicable men……
Too bad there isn’t a Catholic entities commission to look into the running of the finances of various organizations, including parishes and dioceses, to make sure no entity with the word Catholic associated therewith is ever in danger of stiffing those who had faith in it and waited for monies rightfully due that person or organization. I’m not sure Jesus would approve of any Catholic entity doing so. The very thought is shaming.
Gee, thank you Cardinal Mahoney for your awesome stewardship of the Stockton diocese before bishop Blaire showed up. the fact that Mahoney continues to defy his superior’s orders not to perform any public clerical function continues to be a moral and liturgical blight that shows our Church has no more authority other than “cover your butt and hope it all works out”. In LA, while still controlling the LA archdiocese, Cardinal Mahoney had the audacity to write to the laity to help replenish the Diocese’s treasury that was depleted by the $700 Million settlement.
“Forgive them Father for they know not what they do”….
good cause, your apparent ability to make conclusions, solely based on emotion, never ceases to amaze me! You said, “Gee, thank you Cardinal Mahoney for your awesome stewardship of the Stockton diocese before bishop Blaire showed up.” good cause, are we to believe that you are actually holding Cardinal Mahoney responsible for this bankruptcy? Mahoney was Bishop of that diocese for only 5 years, from the years 1980 to 1985! That was over 28 to 33 years ago!
Below is the list of Bishops of the Stockton diocese and the years served:
Hugh Aloysius Donohoe † (27 Jan 1962 – 22 Aug 1969)
Merlin Joseph Guilfoyle † (12 Nov 1969 – 4 Sep 1979)
Roger Michael Mahony (15 Feb 1980 – 12 Jul 1985)
Donald William Montrose † (17 Dec 1985 – 18 Jan 1999)
Stephen Edward Blaire (18 Jan 1999 – )
Interesting timeline !!! I believe the mid 60’s was about the time that the silliness started. The bank accounts will continue to diminish and who cares. We do need to care about what and how the one true faith is taught and as of late it stinks.
so called goodcause,
You are missing the point that Mahony has once again been invited to spread his crap at now Gomez’s REC.
If you don’t want to believe me, just go to: RECongress.org and see for yourself!
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
Some bishops publish audited financial statements on the Diocese’ web site. Some Bishops decline to publish any financial information. At least one Diocesan Chancellor said his Diocese will not publish audited financial statements -even though they have them – since the Laity are not capable of understanding them.
Try telling that to the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding the same Laity’s right to have audited financial statements when they are owners of the securities of publicly traded corporations.
No wonder the Bishops’ collective credibility rating rivals that of the U.S. Congress.
I HOPE CENTRAL CATHOLIC IN MODESTO WILL NOT BE AFFECTED!!!
GREAT TRADITIONAL, REAL CATHOLIC AND PRO-LIFE SCHOOL!!!!
I KNOW, I AM AN ALUMNUS.
Maybe Bishop Blaire was so busy blaming inanimate objects for evil (guns) that he didn’t have time for the Diocese’s financial situation.
Excellent work John Feeny! How incredibly kind and charitable of you to use the wonderful gift of your God given fine intellect to faithfully serve God and illustrate the clever distractions and nonsense that has gripped many of our lead shepherds. Instead of relying on their God given apostolic duty to vigorously uphold the authentic teachings of the Catholic Church for guidance, help and assistance they have compromised their duties by taking their eyes off of the Prize of gaining eternal life by joining the worldly crowd and blaming INANIMATE OBJECTS (guns and other distractions) for the ills of the world.
The GREATEST POVERTY OF ALL is the spiritually neglectful poverty that robs someone of their eternal life.
Our Lord said …“Francis, go rebuild my church, which is falling down.”
The Gospel of Matthew 26: 11 ” For the poor you have always with you: but me you have not always.”
“It would be considered a theft on our part if we didn’t give to someone in greater need than we are.” St. Francis of Assisi = Thank you John Feeny for your generosity in giving your good illustration to many who are in greater need.
“We should all realize that no matter where or how a man dies, if he is in the state of mortal sin and does not repent, when he could have done so and did not, the Devil tears his soul from his body with such anguish and distress that only a person who has experienced it can appreciate it”. – St. Francis of Assisi
“We need to be especially alert to the evil subtlety of Satan. His one desire is to keep people from having a mind and heart disposed to their Lord and God. . .He wants to extinguish the light of the human heart, and so he moves in by means of worldly busyness and worry. – ” St. Francis of Assisi
Remember when that thief Bishop Pat Ziemann stole the diocese of Santa Rosa into bankruptcy and embezzled all the funds of the National Scrip Center? He did all that to support himself and his homosexual lovers. His punishment? Forced retirement at a luxury condo in Arizona where he spent his last years playing golf and sunning by the pool. The rot is in the Episcopacy but it is always ordinary priests who pay the price. Our priests as a whole are pretty good… our Bishops stink.
Jim Aroo,
The late Bishop Mark Hurley often told me how disappointed he was in how Ziemann had taken a Diocese that was in the Green and quickly put it into the Red. He cried many a tear over his Diocese and what had happened to it.
May God have mercy on an amoral Amerika!
Viva Cristo Rey!
God bless, yours in Their Hearts,
Kenneth M. Fisher, Founding Director
Concerned Roman Catholics of America, Inc.
The problem with coverage of the Stockton Diocese story is that it lacks analysis of the root cause of decline: homosexual clergy. Certainly, Bishop Blaire is a typical 1960’s liberal priest/bishop, and in this he is not alone. But, the issue here is the deep and overwhelming control of the Church by homosexual clergy, at all levels, including in the Vatican. The Hero-Pope, Benedict XVI, knew this, speaking of the “filth” within the Church, as did JPII. Benedict did what he thought himself capable of doing, although he may have been limited by the sense of a “shared” or “collegial” form of governance. Of course, God will have justice, and He, apparently, is in the process now of remaking the Church, through death, through the legal process, as in Stockton, and likely in other ways. Stockton’s circumstances are awful, but not unique. Perhaps the best thing to do is simply let much of the Church implode, and perhaps that is what is happening. Then, the Faith will be lead by people who believe, and who cherish their traditions, and living lives focused on Charity and Salvation. Unfortunately, America’s bishops are nothing more than corporate men, and many of them are simply evil. (Good blog, “JimAroo.”) The Faithful should closely watch where they are putting their collection and charitable dollars, for that is the power that the Church administrators understand. Also, speak out, in letter, in blogs, and in any ways that show the venal and corrupt characters that run the Catholic Church today (no, not all, there are exceptions). Bishop Blaire did not directly cause the impending bankruptcy in Stockton, homosexual clergy did, along with the mal-administration (some say criminal) of the many bishops that tolerated the homosexual rape of innocent young children (overwhelmingly boys). Time to find the growing safe-harbors of Catholic Faith, where the Truth is freely preached, and lived. What was it that Jesus said, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.” (Mark 8:22) (DRV)
MAC, good comment and reference to the Catechism! It just stuns me how few priests have financial skills and how unwilling seminaries and dioceses are unwilling to provide basic financial instruction to our pastors.
I hate to be dragooned into agreeing with Good Cause, but I know of at least one notorious case (Fr Oliver O’Grady) in Stockton diocese that then-Bp. Mahony mis-handled, a case of outrageous multiple abuses of minors from 1976 to at least 1984. O’Grady should have been reported to the police and immediately (and forever) incarcerated. Despite evidence showing otherwise, Mahony under later sworn deposition, in fact being advised by his attorney during the deposition, then said he could not remember any such reportings of abuse. (Where is O’Grady now? In Ireland, after serving only 7 years in jail, having been deported.)
Oh: an afterthought; actually now O’Grady is in an Irish prison, having been caught with child pornography in his possession (sentenced to 3 yrs as of Jan 2012). The behavior is both obsessive and demonic.
What is wrong with everyone after reading all of these stories? (That includes the awful stories in the comments). Why are they still following the wolves in sheeps clothing? When will they begin to say their rosaries and see Almighty God’s truth? When will they ask Almighty God to show them His way, the way of the Cross, the Roman Catholic parishes adhering to tradition?
So the Cloward-Piven strategy works in dioceses as well as cities.
Hymie: I do understand Cloward-Piven, but I do not know what you mean with regard to that “C-P strategy now works in dioceses” (obviously the dioceses are destroyed, but usually the socialist left has some overall grand strategy and utilitarian goal they are seeking). What is it they are seeking in collapsing dioceses? You have me intrigued.
Wages of sin is Death. Sad for Good Catholics, but enough of this Social Justice stuff, we should fix our house first.
Pay each and everyone that was abused for the abuse they received.
Paying off out of court settlements, to protect pedophile rapists will most surely screw up a bank account!…Yup, that’s it in a nutshell!
the gays are on the loose!…all are goin to hell baby!