What's that money for?

I empathize with Martin Sheldon's letter to the editor (NCR, July 11) telling how he left his church employment because after 15 years of service he was making only $27,500. In our diocese, Catholic teachers make about 50 percent of a public school teacher's wage when health insurance and retirement benefits are factored in. Yet our diocese has well over $200 million in its investment portfolio. I will bypass the obvious question of what kind of corporations the diocese invested in and simply ask: "What is this money intended for?" I know a small portion is for retirement pensions but sadly a very small amount. A friend recently retired after 30 years in Catholic education; his pension amounted to a grand total of $17,000.

What is this $200 million for? Each year our bishop conducts an appeal, which annually collects more than $5 million to supposedly run the diocesan offices. Wouldn't it make sense to use that money to further the mission of Jesus of Nazareth, to pay Catholic employees a moral and just salary and to provide assistance to the poor and homeless? And isn't it time we start to get some answers?

DAVID MARTENS

Green Bay, Wis.

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