My parish in East Texas received the funds and it was a lot of paperwork to be able to get it. It really helped to be able to pay for the employees when our church funds were reduced by the parish being closed.
It does seem like a pretty crummy move, especially on top of other reports coming out on Knoxville and all the usual strains on parish-chancery relationships.
I noted that the loan is only eligible for grant conversion if 60% is used for payroll expenses. Given that the money has already been spent, I suppose there's no chance that a parish that spent less than 85% on payroll might now be obliged to repay it. (If that phrasing makes any sense!) And then the cynic in me wonders if this tax was levied so late in order to ensure no repayment could be triggered.
Really, though, what *is* the parish to do - hold a bake sale? I reread your article from St. Sabina's withholding of funds and it was informative. I wonder if Knoxville also tends to close parishes that rack up too much debt to the diocese over time.
I can't help but wonder if it is legal under American law for the diocese to take money given by the federal government to schools to keep them going. If not, this could get very interesting quickly.
I thought PPP money was for financial stresses the schools underwent during the pandemic, not found money to pay the bishop’s bills.
My parish in East Texas received the funds and it was a lot of paperwork to be able to get it. It really helped to be able to pay for the employees when our church funds were reduced by the parish being closed.
I am surprised the diocese is trying to charge a tax.
It does seem like a pretty crummy move, especially on top of other reports coming out on Knoxville and all the usual strains on parish-chancery relationships.
I noted that the loan is only eligible for grant conversion if 60% is used for payroll expenses. Given that the money has already been spent, I suppose there's no chance that a parish that spent less than 85% on payroll might now be obliged to repay it. (If that phrasing makes any sense!) And then the cynic in me wonders if this tax was levied so late in order to ensure no repayment could be triggered.
Really, though, what *is* the parish to do - hold a bake sale? I reread your article from St. Sabina's withholding of funds and it was informative. I wonder if Knoxville also tends to close parishes that rack up too much debt to the diocese over time.
Stika probably needs the funds for his legal defense fund.
*Dicastery for Clergy?
I can't help but wonder if it is legal under American law for the diocese to take money given by the federal government to schools to keep them going. If not, this could get very interesting quickly.