Father Peter Confeggi, parish priest at Mount Druitt in Sydney’s weestern suburbs, has criticised the amount of money being spent on World Youth Day this month.
Others within the church have similar concerns about the six-day event, which will cost the church an estimated $150million and NSW taxpayers at least $86million.
Father Confeggi said his parish was one of the most disadvantaged in Sydney. He said the church and state funds could be directed elsewhere, including to the 120,000 people sleeping homeless in Australia or education of the disadvantaged. He said:
“To keep the church doors open here in Mount Druitt we scratch week after week after week,”
“The bottom line is this is a gross embarrassment to the church that I serve.”
and also it was an “utter scandal” that a chalice, Communion plate and vessel to hold Communion hosts – adorned by Argyle diamonds and being made for a rumoured six-figure sum – would be given to the Pope.
He also claimed there was large amount of dissatisfaction” with the spirituality that will be taught during the event, with many fearing it would be a right-wing brand of Catholicism.
I can’t comment on the theology of the Catholic church or World Youth Day, but it does seem to me that it is a shitload of money being spent on it that could be put to much better uses. Huge ceremonies and monument building do not sit well with me as where a church’s priorities should lie.
Technorati Tags: World Youth Day, Pope Benedict, Catholic Church, religion, Father Peter Confeggi
I could comment on the theology of the Catholic church but I will show good sense in not doing so
Instead I will say I also find the incredibly expensive and useless gift to the Pontif an ‘utter scandal’. I agree with Confeggi
Wow! That is a shocking amount of money spent on “things” and an event that perhaps is being used more for PR than actual spiritual development. What ever happened to “have no idols”? A six figure, diamond studded ritual object sorta seems like an idol to me (like um, say, a golden calf). Thanks for an interesting read!
Every good PR stunt to grab media attention costs mega $.
Spirituality?
Isn’t that what the Pope muttered when modelling his Prada shoes,hat and other threads…?
Argh.. don’t get me started! Our friend Morris has even changed the laws to prevent anyone from spoiling anyone’s experience at this event. Imagine if there was a World Muslim Day. Who’d change the laws for that?
The pope in his Prada shoes and his umpteenth jewel encrusted chalice should be ashamed. How Christ-like is that?
That old man will get respect when he deserves it, I reckon.
Is not the whole thing a necessary show of religious power?
at a time when Islam is building everywhere – it might be necessary to put on a counter show.
Not a new idea either.
Organized religions of every denomination spend way too much on “crap.”
Fr Peter Confeggi comments seem very similar to those of Judas who betrayed Jesus:
Fr Confeggi said, “…the money could be better spent on struggling parishes like his in Mount Druitt, which is one of the most disadvantaged in Sydney.”
And Judas Iscariot (John 12: 1-8) said, “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?”
Yet Jesus rebuked Judas for what he said. No doubt Jesus could see through the insincerity of Judas.
Given some of the friends Confeggi keeps one wonders about his own motives. See here:
http://johnheard.blogspot.com/2008/07/dreadclarity-peter-confeggi-priest.html