Bishops follow Francis’ example, renouncing mansions for parsonages

By Andrea Tornielli
Vatican Insider
April 20, 2014

http://vaticaninsider.lastampa.it/en/world-news/detail/articolo/francesco-francisco-francis-gregory-33562/

Clerics have been changing their ways since the scandal involving the Bishop of Limburg, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst, who was forced to leave his German diocese after faithful protested against the exorbitant sum he spent on his new residence complex, a whopping thirty million Euros. In recent weeks, Atlanta’s archbishop, Wilton Gregory admitted that he authorized an excessively expensive restructuring project for his residence, a mansion that was donated to him. The project cost two million dollars. Now, the newly appointed bishop of Paisley, John Keenan, has announced he wants to live in a parsonage in a low-income housing estate.

The Francis effect is taking root it seems. The Pope has not asked any bishop to copy him: it is a well-known fact that Francis never lived in the apartment reserved for him as archbishop and cardinal, preferring instead to take a simple room in the Curia building. In the Vatican he chooses to reside at St. Martha’s House instead of the Apostolic Palace, “for psychological reasons”, because he likes having people around him. He has spoken about the poverty and sobriety of men of the Church on many occasions but his example is not becoming contagious.

In an interview with The Herald, the prelate said Francis and himself dreamt of a Church that went out into the street and got dirty instead of clinging onto safety. “ When people see a church not just giving to the poor and the excluded but being among them and living with them joyfully, then they will really begin to believe there is a way out of the vicious cycle of living for yourself in your own little bubble."

The Archbishop of Atlanta’s case caused an uproar with faithful writing letters to the diocesan newspaper criticizing the excessive amount of money spent on his new home - a donation from the estate of Joseph Mitchell, a nephew of "Gone With The Wind" author, Margaret Mitchell – when so many people barely have anything to live on. Many of these messages referred to the Pope’s words and the example he is setting: "We are disturbed and disappointed to see our church leaders not setting the example of a simple life as Pope Francis calls for. How can we instil this in our children when they see their archdiocesan leadership living extravagantly?" one parishioner wrote.

Mgr. Gregory, formerly president of the US Bishops’ Conference, published an open letter of apology to faithful, saying he was struck by the sincerity of their criticisms. “The world and the Church have changed.  Even before the phenomenon we have come to know as Pope Francis was elected to the Chair of Peter, we Bishops of the Church were reminded by our own failings and frailty that we are called to live more simply, more humbly, and more like Jesus Christ.” He proceeded to announce that he was selling the property and moving to a less luxurious residence: “So I agreed to sell the West Wesley residence to the Cathedral Parish and set about looking for a different place for me and my successors to live.” These examples indicate the emergence of a new awareness: there is a certain style that is being put into practice, especially in times of crisis. Faithful expect to be reminded of the importance of sticking to the values of the Gospel and called to follow the example of their pastors.