Florida Catholic | Editorial

Accountability promotes generosity

Published: 02.29.08

As good stewards, organizations should show their accountability with donated funds.

The Diocese of Orlando implemented new protocols for handling cash collections in its parishes this month, including tamper-proof bags and procedures that separate duties involved in collecting and counting money at parishes. These procedures make sense these days in assuring the safety of donations while protecting those who work and volunteer for the church.

This follows an announcement in the past year by the Diocese of Palm Beach and others across the country that parishes will have more frequent audits, in most cases on a biennial basis, to ensure that proper accounting procedures are being followed.

The new protocols in both dioceses follow revelations of alleged financial improprieties in parishes. The stricter arrangements will promote the security of contributions from those who are partners in the mission of the parish and the diocese.

One key to almsgiving is trust. Once a person gives a portion of his or her resources to the poor or a ministry, one must have a sense that it is now out of his or her hands. Trust — in God and in the recipient — has a role to play in being a faithful giver of alms. But there is also a sense that we should be cautious in some ways about those to whom we entrust those gifts. Let’s look at some examples:

First, perhaps a homeless person approaches you on the street and asks for a dollar or two to buy a meal, or find a place to sleep for the night. The compassionate thing to do might be to give him a little bit of money, or that might enable him — not necessarily in a good way — to continue living on the street. What’s the right choice? It’s not always bad to give the person some spare change, but maybe it’s better to take that person to a nearby diner or convenience store and buy them a meal, so you know the person actually used it for food. It’s even better to support shelters and organizations such as the St. Vincent de Paul Society and Catholic Charities that provide services for the homeless at the “wholesale” level rather than the “retail” level. These organizations can better leverage that spare change or a few dollars into many meals or beds, instead of just one.

Second, perhaps you decide to donate to a ministry. You don’t just walk out your door and hand it to someone claiming to represent that cause, do you? Of course not. You do a bit of research, you read the ministry’s materials and you make certain that its mission is a match for your goals and values. Part of that is knowing that the group will be accountable for the funds it receives. Annual reports, such as those published in the Florida Catholic by diocesan finance offices, help in showing the accountability of the funds entrusted to the bishops through the annual diocesan appeals. Further, many parishes publish an annual report in their parish bulletin or mail them to parishioners. Other charities make similar reports available.

The church could increase its stewardship of the faithful’s contributions in other ways, too. More parishes could accept electronic contributions, via monthly debits. This accomplishes two goals: it helps parishes and parishioners budget better, by making contributions more regular and less subject to the flux of Mass attendance. It also places less cash in the collection basket, since the funds are automatically deposited regularly in the parish account, rather than as bills which must be counted at the church. A third, less important factor, is that it saves the scramble in the pew as folks pull out the checkbook or cash and race to stuff the envelope before the usher gets to their row with the basket.

As good stewards, organizations should show their accountability with donated funds. Taking steps to make these methods more secure is welcome and laudable. We, as good stewards, should be confident in sharing our gifts with these organizations.

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Accountability promotes generosity

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