JD is joined by The Pillar’s Managing Editor Michelle La Rosa to reflect on the National Eucharistic Congress and the impact of World Youth Day in Denver.
Michelle brings that ineffable UD energy to the table, great podcast!
On the topic of a teacher training program, it’s only gonna work if it’s a paid summer program or if they somehow lessen the normal load for those teachers for the duration of the program.
If it’s a good program, it should demand some real effort from those teachers. Which means, they’re gonna hate it, even if it’s a good program, because teacher already demands all your energy.
Responding to the comments on accountability journalism:
While I'm sure the sex-related reporting gets more clicks, my main interest are the financial shenanigans (being an actuary, duh, that's my wheelhouse.)
Having followed more secular financial misdoings over the decades, and regulatory failings, it does help having outside parties who keep an eye on these goings-on, especially if there is a weak regulator. (-cough-)
It's not that the regulator(s) have no power, but that they don't necessarily have the knowledge ... or that those committing the fraud, who are no dummies if they are able to continue their racket for any extended period, are using their social connections w/ the regulator(s) to make sure their activities are not too closely looked at.
We saw this with Bernie Madoff and we saw this with McCarrick ... until the reckoning came. Madoff used affiliation scams and the lack of financial sophistication within the SEC to manage his Ponzi for decades. McCarrick, well...
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and concepts of segregation of duties were signed into law in 2002. Twenty-two years later Catholic dioceses and parishes are still looking for a solution 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
Amen. Imagine a Deacon and former CFO or CEO helping out. I’m concerned in 5 years or after Pope Francis dies the communion rail will be back up with barbed wire, & Deacons (who existed before presbyters) won’t be permitted in the sanctuary. But I digress in enduring hope that the lay apostolate will survive and rise against rampant clericalism.
Great pod. I’d use some of the $150 million to start a religious order of women in Gary and rebuild the self-perpetuating model that served Catholic schools so well for 150 years.
As a retired chemical engineer (40 years), a Catholic school vet through grade 12, a former adjunct instructor, and a voting American who disdains both major political parties, I did pause or chuckle in today’s political context at the notion of a staunch Republican family foundation funding a STEM platform for Gary’s Catholic schools.
I can just envision the following “constraints” being applied as amendments to the spending terms:
• Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, epidemiology, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics expressly forbidden from the curriculum - tell your patients or supervisors that you recommend bleach chugging
• no Designed Experiments - just say the results are rigged and postulate a ridiculous nonsensical outcome
• Mathematics - all solved equations need to be reviewed in a federal court by an incompetent political lackey judge. Unlimited trials and recounts since we have to burn $150 in 9 years (first year is for planning only)
And if the city of Gary has zero Catholic school, all proceeds go to - you guessed it - the suburbs- until a school can be “spun up” in the most likely more needy inner city…
Hopefully the civil/canon lawyer bishop has a more healthy skepticism and a vigilant staff and is more due diligent than my raised eyebrows and those of a retired bishop friend. If it looks & smells too good to be true, it just might have hidden strings attached. Receiver beware.
I’m not “fraternally correcting” anyone. I’m citing a valid due diligence concern that a bishop friend of mine wholeheartedly concurs with. If it seems too good to be true, it just might be too good to be true.
You are right, there is no charity in your comment so no fraternal correction. Maybe you should check yourself and your bishop friend because you are so self assured of your righteousness and judgement of others that you sound like a Pharisee, at least that’s what I see in most of your comments.
Sounds like you are calling me “self righteous” and a Pharisee. There is no charity in name calling. But at least you gave me credit for believing in resurrection from the dead, and didn’t call me a Sadducee.
How about this. I am not good at being charitable when I read your comments because they are full of self righteousness. I should have just asked you to stop commenting with so many judgements of people you do not know. Between this rather mean comment, your comments about veils and your comment about altar rails, your concerns are completely obscured by your clear disdain for certain Catholics. In the end it’s your call what you do here, but I would take Bridget’s advice before commenting in the future.
That was my thought. An investment in technical skills and crafts germane to the local economy. Plus the libraries, formation, curriculum, and capital maintenance concerns.
Thank you for JD for bringing Michelle onto the Podcast. As one of those nagging voices for this to happen, it really has brought a smile to my face.
It was fun to have another Pillar contributor view since everyone there is so interesting and knowledgeable, which is reflected in their writing. Now bring on Luke, Brendan, and Edgar! Woo-hoo!
Michelle brings that ineffable UD energy to the table, great podcast!
On the topic of a teacher training program, it’s only gonna work if it’s a paid summer program or if they somehow lessen the normal load for those teachers for the duration of the program.
If it’s a good program, it should demand some real effort from those teachers. Which means, they’re gonna hate it, even if it’s a good program, because teacher already demands all your energy.
Just a thought
Responding to the comments on accountability journalism:
While I'm sure the sex-related reporting gets more clicks, my main interest are the financial shenanigans (being an actuary, duh, that's my wheelhouse.)
Having followed more secular financial misdoings over the decades, and regulatory failings, it does help having outside parties who keep an eye on these goings-on, especially if there is a weak regulator. (-cough-)
It's not that the regulator(s) have no power, but that they don't necessarily have the knowledge ... or that those committing the fraud, who are no dummies if they are able to continue their racket for any extended period, are using their social connections w/ the regulator(s) to make sure their activities are not too closely looked at.
We saw this with Bernie Madoff and we saw this with McCarrick ... until the reckoning came. Madoff used affiliation scams and the lack of financial sophistication within the SEC to manage his Ponzi for decades. McCarrick, well...
The Sarbanes-Oxley Act and concepts of segregation of duties were signed into law in 2002. Twenty-two years later Catholic dioceses and parishes are still looking for a solution 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯
This is obviously a place where laypeople could help the Church... if the hierarchy would let us.
Amen. Imagine a Deacon and former CFO or CEO helping out. I’m concerned in 5 years or after Pope Francis dies the communion rail will be back up with barbed wire, & Deacons (who existed before presbyters) won’t be permitted in the sanctuary. But I digress in enduring hope that the lay apostolate will survive and rise against rampant clericalism.
Great pod. I’d use some of the $150 million to start a religious order of women in Gary and rebuild the self-perpetuating model that served Catholic schools so well for 150 years.
As a retired chemical engineer (40 years), a Catholic school vet through grade 12, a former adjunct instructor, and a voting American who disdains both major political parties, I did pause or chuckle in today’s political context at the notion of a staunch Republican family foundation funding a STEM platform for Gary’s Catholic schools.
I can just envision the following “constraints” being applied as amendments to the spending terms:
• Biology, chemistry, biochemistry, epidemiology, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics expressly forbidden from the curriculum - tell your patients or supervisors that you recommend bleach chugging
• no Designed Experiments - just say the results are rigged and postulate a ridiculous nonsensical outcome
• Mathematics - all solved equations need to be reviewed in a federal court by an incompetent political lackey judge. Unlimited trials and recounts since we have to burn $150 in 9 years (first year is for planning only)
And if the city of Gary has zero Catholic school, all proceeds go to - you guessed it - the suburbs- until a school can be “spun up” in the most likely more needy inner city…
Hopefully the civil/canon lawyer bishop has a more healthy skepticism and a vigilant staff and is more due diligent than my raised eyebrows and those of a retired bishop friend. If it looks & smells too good to be true, it just might have hidden strings attached. Receiver beware.
I’m not “fraternally correcting” anyone. I’m citing a valid due diligence concern that a bishop friend of mine wholeheartedly concurs with. If it seems too good to be true, it just might be too good to be true.
You are right, there is no charity in your comment so no fraternal correction. Maybe you should check yourself and your bishop friend because you are so self assured of your righteousness and judgement of others that you sound like a Pharisee, at least that’s what I see in most of your comments.
Sounds like you are calling me “self righteous” and a Pharisee. There is no charity in name calling. But at least you gave me credit for believing in resurrection from the dead, and didn’t call me a Sadducee.
How about this. I am not good at being charitable when I read your comments because they are full of self righteousness. I should have just asked you to stop commenting with so many judgements of people you do not know. Between this rather mean comment, your comments about veils and your comment about altar rails, your concerns are completely obscured by your clear disdain for certain Catholics. In the end it’s your call what you do here, but I would take Bridget’s advice before commenting in the future.
Hey friends,
Just a reminder of The Pillar's commenting policy: Christian charity, toward our interlocutors, and toward those whom we are discussing.
If that doesn't sound right to you, this isn't the place for you.
have a good day.
Great episode! I loved hearing more from Michelle.
To start the diocese of Gary could buy everyone in the diocese a subscription to the Pillar
Surprised that neither mentioned Gary using the $150 million for vo-tech programs. Lots of capital needed for good shops in schools.
That was my thought. An investment in technical skills and crafts germane to the local economy. Plus the libraries, formation, curriculum, and capital maintenance concerns.
How great would it be if in 20 years, Gary was known as the Vo-Tech capital of America?
21:14 Library talk! Someone light the Ed-Signal!
If the Bat-Signal has a bat symbol, what would be on the light to summon Ed Condon?
It's a watch, of course!
Thank you for JD for bringing Michelle onto the Podcast. As one of those nagging voices for this to happen, it really has brought a smile to my face.
It was fun to have another Pillar contributor view since everyone there is so interesting and knowledgeable, which is reflected in their writing. Now bring on Luke, Brendan, and Edgar! Woo-hoo!
And Kate O.!