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Thursday, February 20, 2014

Salon- New Home for Bishop While School Closes Down

Thursday, Feb 20, 2014 12:43 PM EST

Catholic archdiocese closes school citing lack of funds, then builds lavish vacation home for bishop

The 3,000-square foot addition to the archbishops' 4,500-square foot vacation home is being strongly criticized

Topics: Catholic Church, Catholicism, pope francis, New Jersey, Money, schools, Education, closing schools, , ,
Catholic archdiocese closes school citing lack of funds, then builds lavish vacation home for bishop A 
 
satellite image of Archbishop Myers' weekend residence. The image does not show the three-story addition now under construction. (Credit: Google Maps via New Jersey Star Ledger)
 
Pope Francis has galvanized many people inside and outside the Catholic church with critiques of the destructive excesses of capitalism, and his own decision to forgo living in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican in favor of more modest accommodations with other members of the clergy.

Such efforts, even if largely symbolic in their impact, have not been embraced by others in the Catholic hierarchy.

Two years after closing a school citing a lack of funds, an archdiocese in New Jersey is building a lavish addition to a retirement home for its archbishop.

As the New Jersey Star-Ledger reports, Newark Archbishop John J. Myers’ current “weekend residence” is a 4,500-square foot luxury home with five bedrooms, three full bathrooms, a three-car garage and a large outdoor pool.
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But Myers has commissioned a 3,000-square foot expansion in anticipation of his retirement in two years. The addition will include an indoor exercise pool, a hot tub, three fireplaces, a library and an elevator.

In response to considerable criticism of Myers, spokesman Jim Goodness, said the addition will have “no impact” on archdiocese finances, explaining that the cost will be covered by the sale of other church-owned properties.

Still the question remains: Isn’t there a better use for that money in a struggling archdiocese?
Katie McDonough is an assistant editor for Salon, focusing on lifestyle. Follow her on Twitter @kmcdonovgh or email her at kmcdonough@salon.com.
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