Lester HioThe Straits Times
Tuesday, Dec 23, 2014
The Franciscan friars in Singapore said yesterday that they were not affected by a financial scandal exposed by the worldwide head of their Catholic religious order.
Last week, Friar Michael Perry, leader of the Order of Friars Minor (OFM), revealed that the organisation which has its headquarters in Rome is broke after “questionable financial activities” by some members.
The friars in Singapore declined to comment on the scandal, but assured donors that funds here are unaffected.
“There has been no impact, as we have never invested with them,” said Father Clifford Augustine, parish priest of the Church of St Mary of the Angels, which the friars run in Bukit Batok East.
The local chapter of the OFM is registered as a company limited by guarantee, which means that every dollar is accounted for by local auditors, he explained.
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