Lifestyles of the Rich, Catholic Edition, Cont'd

As we noted on March 24, Atlanta's Roman Catholic Archbishop Wilton Gregory had a lovely $2.2 million mansion built for his official residence.  Now, the Archbishop has decided to sell the property after outrage from his archdiocese spilled over.  As he cluelessly stated,

“I want to thank those parishioners whose prayers, counsel and concern brought this issue to light and ensured that their Archbishop was properly attuned to the important symbolism of simple actions and the challenges faced by many of the faithful in the Archdiocese of Atlanta.”

Translation:  "I didn't realize that spending $2.2 million on a mansion might be a problem for my parishioners, many of whom are struggling to pay bills.  Thanks for the heads up. "

Gregory's just one of many senior clergy in the Church who have ignored the admonitions from Pope Francis, not to mention the New Testament.  Limberg, Germany's "Bishop of Bling," the princely Bishop of Newark and other prelates apparently have confused wealth with holiness.

Lifestyles of the Rich, Catholic Church Edition

You'll recall the Catholic Archbishop of Newark who has a taste for high living, and who was constructing a dream home courtesy of his fleeced flock.  Today, we're learning of another "Prince of the Church" who's living like a real prince in the Atlanta area:  Archbishop Wilton Gregory has taken a bequest from the estate of a wealthy parishioner and has bought a $2.2 million, 6,196 square foot mansion.  The archdiocese also purchased another $2.2 million estate (that was Gregory's home in the past) for a rectory.  Parishioners are unhappy that the needs of the poor were not the Archbishop's top priority.  Indeed.

It's baffling why these eminences of the Church haven't heeded Pope Francis' decree that they live simpler, less extravagant lives.  Perhaps instead of loading up on bling and big houses, they need to turn their attention not only to their leader's directions, but to Matthew 19:24:

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”