OPINION:
Last week I read a disturbing story in The Washington Times: “’Economic lifeline’: Catholic dioceses took millions in taxpayer aid while sitting on own cash” (Web, Feb. 4). According to the article, “scores of Catholic dioceses across the U.S. received aid through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) while sitting on well over $10 billion in cash overall, the nation’s nearly 200 dioceses received at least $3 billion.”
No, you didn’t misread that. When asked about this, the Vatican passed the buck to the U.S. Conference of Bishops. A USCB spokesperson, Cheiko Noguchi, defended this outrage by stating, “that the Paycheck Protection Program was ’designed to protect the jobs of Americans from all walks of life regardless of whether they work for for-profit or non-profit employers, faith-based or secular.’” I agree with the church’s statement that their workers are entitled to help, but it should have come from the $10 billion first.
Other well-endowed institutions, such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale universities, which received cash from the PPP and encountered blowback from people who really needed the money, decided to return it. Good choice. Notre Dame University, however, said it would keep the cash and use it for financial aid for needy students.
Once again, the church had $10 billion in cash and investments. Even though the church’s money grab may be legal, is it moral?
ANN COMERFORD
Haymarket, Va.
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