Merger issue raises questions | CPT PPP Coverage

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To the editor:

In an article in the Oct. 18 edition of The Pillar, Diocese of Steubenville priests and a former diocesan employee said that the diocese has been badly mismanaged by Bishop Jeffrey Monforton and needs concrete changes, new leadership and not a merger. The priests called for “complete, authentic transparency with regard to the diocese’s financial status.” Please read the article.

Monforton told the priests that he had consulted with the apostolic nuncio and the bishops of Ohio, all of whom had supported a plan to merge with the Columbus diocese. What he may not have told the priests as reported in the Crux on Oct. 12, was his statement that the possibility of a merger became apparent about a year and a half ago when the Holy See (the government of the Roman Catholic Church led by the pope) expressed concern over the declining numbers. The two sides (Vatican and Monforton) agreed that something had to be done and that merging dioceses looked like the best option.

Monforton told Crux, “We’ve been able to make it happen, but that’s not going to be able to continue. Our numbers keep declining to a point of 10 years from now, can we even exist.”

Why would the Vatican express concern a year and a half ago about a diocese that could remain viable for possibly 10 more years from today? I believe the Vatican’s concern was not about a declining number of laity or clergy members or not having a cathedral. It was about a continued lack of financial transparency, criminal actions and continued investigations. I believe it finally reached the boiling point and it said enough is enough.

I am citing one financial concern; there are many others. In the Herald-Star on Nov. 25, 2013, Monforton said he had 75 percent ($3.75 million) in cathedral donations of the $5 million needed for the renovation project at that time. He told The Pillar on Oct. 18 that the cathedral’s Cathedral Square project cost the diocese more than $1 million in unrestricted funds.” Why did he use unrestricted funds? Why didn’t he use the cathedral renovation restricted donations? What happened to those donations?

Voice of the Faithful released on Oct. 21, 2021, its annual Financial Transparency and Accountability Report scores for 2021. The Diocese of Steubenville received a score of 30. Out of 176 dioceses in our country only seven dioceses posted a lower score than the Diocese of Steubenville.

I fail to understand why the Vatican is choosing to suppress the diocese instead of addressing the issues directly with Monforton. Why penalize the members? Could it be just to avoid another scandal?

I pray the merger does not happen. However, since the Vatican initiated the process, I feel the approval at the bishops’ conference is a mere formality. Unfortunately, if that happens you may never know the true financial picture of your diocese and the mismanagement, at the very least, by Monforton. I’m praying for a miracle.

Frank Krajovic

Woostock, Ga.