I'm going to assume that these are genuine questions and not simply a need to shout.
It's a common myth that the Vatican is stupid wealthy. I once thought that way.
The fact is, that Harvard University has a larger endowment than the Vatican. Feel free to look it up. Vatican finances are public and audited.
Most money raised by individual parishes are spent in those individual parishes. Virtually all money raised by various dioceses never leave their diocese. The Catholic Church isn't organized like a government or a corporation. While some directives come from the top, virtually none of the money goes there. Each bishop is essentially autonomous.
As for the Vatican's vast collection of art... this is the result of 2000 years of artists, sculptors, etc. worshipping through their creative efforts. Do you expect the Church to sell them on eBay?
The Church is the largest single charity operation in the world, with hospitals, hospices, soup kitchens, and shelters in virtually every city in the world where there is a parish.
And as for why the Pope dresses that way... well, that's just tradition.
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rosecarmine
(no subject)
Date: 2007-03-30 10:58 pm (UTC)It's a common myth that the Vatican is stupid wealthy. I once thought that way.
The fact is, that Harvard University has a larger endowment than the Vatican. Feel free to look it up. Vatican finances are public and audited.
Most money raised by individual parishes are spent in those individual parishes. Virtually all money raised by various dioceses never leave their diocese. The Catholic Church isn't organized like a government or a corporation. While some directives come from the top, virtually none of the money goes there. Each bishop is essentially autonomous.
As for the Vatican's vast collection of art... this is the result of 2000 years of artists, sculptors, etc. worshipping through their creative efforts. Do you expect the Church to sell them on eBay?
The Church is the largest single charity operation in the world, with hospitals, hospices, soup kitchens, and shelters in virtually every city in the world where there is a parish.
And as for why the Pope dresses that way... well, that's just tradition.