The story of money in the Catholic Church "is a story of personality" -- how each individual bishop tends to his own diocese's "infrastructure, funds, property, investments, social service programs and parish life," Jason Berry writes in "Render Unto Rome: The Secret Life of Money in the Catholic Church." For Berry, the church's financial system "resembles a constellation of medieval fiefdoms in which each bishop manages his fisc ideally to serve his people, but with an eye riveted on Rome."
The Vatican largely has "rubber-stamped bishops' financial decisions," the author states. Yet, the interactions of Vatican officials with officials of U.S. dioceses are of sufficient interest to constitute a key point of focus in this book.
In one of its "narrative lines," the book "follows a series of property and financial decisions that link certain American bishops and Vatican officials." Many of these decisions occur in a context influenced by the high cost of settling cases involving clergy sexual abuse of minors.
In other words, a large part of Berry's book is devoted to the church's handling of money at a time of extraordinary financial demands. He hardly is uncaring about the church. However, readers familiar with his past work will not be surprised to find he is unafraid to present his viewpoints and the conclusions drawn from his research and extensive interviewing in an emphatic, often critical manner.
"Render Unto Rome" is not a comprehensive study. Rather, Berry says he wanted to take "a deep look at the handling of church assets" in the archdioceses of Boston and Los Angeles, and the Diocese of Cleveland, interlacing these accounts "with events from other dioceses and a recurrent focus on the Congregation for the Clergy, the Vatican office that monitors how bishops sell property."
Controversies surrounding the suppression and closing of parishes represent an important object of Berry's attention.
Changing demographics may well motivate the closing of a parish, but "Render Unto Rome" also points to the selling of church properties as a means of raising needed revenue to plug financial holes that opened with the sexual abuse cases. Lengthy interventions and protests by those "seeking to preserve their churches from becoming liquid assets" are highlighted by Berry.
"Render Unto Rome" concludes an "investigative trilogy on the crisis of the Catholic Church," Berry informs readers. He notes that the trilogy's first entry, "Lead Us Not Into Temptation," exposed "the contours of a national scandal" involving clergy sexual abuse of minors. That book was published in 1992, long before most members of society became aware of this abuse.
"Vows of Silence" was the trilogy's second entry. Berry wrote the 2004 book together with Gerald Renner, a veteran religion reporter then on the staff of the Hartford Courant in Hartford, Conn.
Most people remember the book principally because it reported the sexual abuse of seminarians by Father Marcial Maciel Degollado, the Mexican-born founder of the international religious order known as the Legionaries of Christ.
Though Father Maciel had enjoyed the trust of Pope John Paul II, after a Vatican investigation the priest finally was instructed in 2006 to step down, to devote himself to prayer and penance, and not to exercise priestly ministry publicly. He died in January 2008 at age 87.
Berry continues his examination of the Legionaries' founder and of the order itself in "Render Unto Rome." One chapter, titled "Father Maciel, Lord of Prosperity," delves into the religious order's reputed wealth and the uses made of this money.
"Money is a mighty force in any religion," Berry comments in his discussion of Father Maciel and the Legionaries. The author holds that Father Maciel "embodied the theology of prosperity" and "used religion to make money."
Berry reports how Father Maciel endeavored in an ongoing way to curry favor and influence in offices of the Roman Curia through significant financial gifts to officials.
As a writer, Berry often adopts a storytelling approach, attempting to reveal the personality, feelings or motivations of individuals involved in the events he covers. At times this works quite well, drawing the reader into the story.
Where does the church's money go? Berry suggests to readers that this is a basic question to ask. However, he says, "a true financial profile of the church is elusive."
There is no "inherent structure for accountability" when it comes to the handling of church finances, Berry insists. He writes, "As Catholics we know too little about how well, or poorly, bishops and religious leaders manage the money we give and the larger sphere of church assets."