The parishioners of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) are still waiting to
see the results of the financial audit that was conducted on behalf of the Diocese of Las Vegas following the ongoing theft by Msgr. McAuliffe over the course of several years. The audit was conducted during 2011, after Msgr. McAuliffe's removal.
The Diocese allowed the SEAS parish council to very briefly see the
audit results, but they were first required to sign a non-disclosure
agreement about the findings. Furthermore, no one seems to know the name of the firm used to audit the parish.
Particularly in a situation of financial impropriety
such as this one, the parishioners who donated their hard-earned money
to the parish should be allowed to see the results in black and white.
Not only did SEAS avoid audit for nearly 10 years, but now that an audit
has been conducted in the face of scandal, the results are being
withheld.
This would be the most appropriate time to institute the sort
of transparency that would help parishioners regain their trust in the
administration of the parish.
Call to Prayer:
God our loving Father, you are the One in whom we may always trust above all things. Help us to be confident in your divine providence. Help our Shepherds to not be fearful of the judgements that come with human failings, but to courageously start anew in a spirit of right judgement. Our Lady of Perpetual Help, pray for us. Amen.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Video of the Interfaith Rally
Here is a video of the rally put on by the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (now known as Nevadans for the Common Good) and the Industrial Areas Foundation.
Special appearances by Bishop Pepe and Fr. Bob Stoeckig.
Video: Nevadans for the Common Good
Incidentally, please explore this website for the Southwest Region of the IAF.
Special appearances by Bishop Pepe and Fr. Bob Stoeckig.
Video: Nevadans for the Common Good
Incidentally, please explore this website for the Southwest Region of the IAF.
Monday, June 11, 2012
Bishop Supports Questionable "Interfaith" Group
Some news was brought to my attention by a concerned parishioner which will be of interest to all Las Vegas Catholics.
Many of the Catholic faithful in Las Vegas will be familiar by now with the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom which took place on May 22, 2012. This convention was put on by a group called the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC), also known as Nevadans for the Common Good. We are all aware of this event because Bishop Pepe, via the Diocese web site and in parish bulletins across our Diocese, strongly voiced his support for and encouraged all to attend the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good.
The Bishop and our Vicar General Fr. Bob Stoeckig have thrown the weight of the Diocese of Las Vegas behind them in full support through a strongly worded letter from the Bishop and through the work of Fr. Stoeckig and Deacon Tim O’Callaghan. In fact, Fr. Stoeckig himself is a member of the LVVISC (see bulletin).
The problem with supporting this interfaith rally for the “Common Good”, and with supporting the LVVISC in general, is that the LVVISC is not an independent and legitimate interfaith organization established by actual faith organizations. They are, in fact, a mere affiliate of a national political network called the Industrial Areas Foundation. The LVVISC is not only backed by the secular Industrial Areas Foundation, it is also run by Industrial Areas Foundation staff members.
The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network for community organizing and activism established by political radical and author of “Rules for Radicals”, Saul Alinsky, for the purpose of attaining power (as stated on their website). While the IAF’s local affiliates (such as the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee-see supporting documents below) purport to be concerned with Las Vegas’ social issues such as the trafficking of minors, local work for the common good is typically shelved before long and national political issues are soon given the priority and the funding.
The Bishop’s support for the interfaith efforts of the LVVISC is tantamount to support for the national political efforts of the AIF. Why should you care whether the Bishop and Fr. Stoeckig support the IAF? Because the Bishop’s endorsement gives the LVVISC/IAF credibility among Catholic parishioners and puts the resources of the Diocese at the disposal of the IAF by not just providing money (see supporting documents below), but also the very valuable time of our priests and deacons. The IAF will then in turn use the works of our priests and the donated money to further their aims and coordinate their own national political works in contradiction to Church teaching. Support for the good works of Las Vegas Catholics who are already working to improve Vegas itself are thereby diminished.
The text of the Bishop’s letter to parishioners is as follows:
Interestingly enough, not all these words are the Bishop’s own writing. It seems someone from the LVVISC/IAF has given him and other faith leaders a form letter that they can use to announce the event. You can also see the exact words our Bishop used in a letter from Christ the Servant Christian Church’s pastor, seen in the last paragraph of the May 2012 address. Like Bishop Pepe’s letter, this letter also goes on to describe how lots of other faith groups will also be supporting the effort. One may presume that since everyone else is doing it, then so should the Diocese of Las Vegas.
The information I am posting here regarding the IAF is simply the tip of the iceberg. Anyone wishing to fully understand the link between the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee and the IAF can simply start searching online to find a plethora of connections between the two. Furthermore, the deeper one delves into the organizing tactics of the IAF, the more apparent it becomes that the establishment of the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee is perfectly in line with the typical organizing efforts of the IAF, which is to use faith-based influence to improve their success. A list of IAF affiliates reveals a long list of localized “interfaith” organizations from Albuquerque, AZ to Washington, DC.
Further investigation into the Industrial Areas Foundation and its founder, Saul Alinksy, will also yield a lot of insight into the motives and belief system of the current group, which is diametrically opposed to the Catholic faith. Executive Co-Director of the IAF for the Southwest regions, Ernesto Cortes, Jr., has been integral to developing the “interfaith” organizing tactics among other organizing strategies that are employed by the IAF nationwide.
Rather than putting our time, talent and treasure into this “local interfaith” effort, why not support Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Living Grace Homes, First Choice Pregnancy Center, or another local Catholic charity? Anything else scatters our time, talent and treasure. Las Vegas Catholics are already putting forth tremendous amounts of human and fiscal resources to combat the ills in our town. If we Catholics put forth effort to benefit the questionable ethics and goals of the LVVISC/IAF, those are resources that will be siphoned off from valuable social work that upholds Catholic teaching and that builds up the Kingdom of God.
For a thorough analysis of the AIF from a Catholic perspective, please see this treatise from CatholicCulture.org: A Commentary on the Industrial Areas Foundation
Supporting Documentation:
LVVISC statement of Affiliation with the IAF
Funding by local Catholic Congregations
This letter from the LVVISC to New Song Anthem Church requests financial contributions. It is likely that the Diocese has received similar requests for financial support.
The Blaze article on the link between Obama and the IAF
Call to Prayer:
From A Catholic Prayer Book
Many of the Catholic faithful in Las Vegas will be familiar by now with the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom which took place on May 22, 2012. This convention was put on by a group called the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee (LVVISC), also known as Nevadans for the Common Good. We are all aware of this event because Bishop Pepe, via the Diocese web site and in parish bulletins across our Diocese, strongly voiced his support for and encouraged all to attend the Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good.
The Bishop and our Vicar General Fr. Bob Stoeckig have thrown the weight of the Diocese of Las Vegas behind them in full support through a strongly worded letter from the Bishop and through the work of Fr. Stoeckig and Deacon Tim O’Callaghan. In fact, Fr. Stoeckig himself is a member of the LVVISC (see bulletin).
The problem with supporting this interfaith rally for the “Common Good”, and with supporting the LVVISC in general, is that the LVVISC is not an independent and legitimate interfaith organization established by actual faith organizations. They are, in fact, a mere affiliate of a national political network called the Industrial Areas Foundation. The LVVISC is not only backed by the secular Industrial Areas Foundation, it is also run by Industrial Areas Foundation staff members.
The Industrial Areas Foundation (IAF) is a national network for community organizing and activism established by political radical and author of “Rules for Radicals”, Saul Alinsky, for the purpose of attaining power (as stated on their website). While the IAF’s local affiliates (such as the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee-see supporting documents below) purport to be concerned with Las Vegas’ social issues such as the trafficking of minors, local work for the common good is typically shelved before long and national political issues are soon given the priority and the funding.
The Bishop’s support for the interfaith efforts of the LVVISC is tantamount to support for the national political efforts of the AIF. Why should you care whether the Bishop and Fr. Stoeckig support the IAF? Because the Bishop’s endorsement gives the LVVISC/IAF credibility among Catholic parishioners and puts the resources of the Diocese at the disposal of the IAF by not just providing money (see supporting documents below), but also the very valuable time of our priests and deacons. The IAF will then in turn use the works of our priests and the donated money to further their aims and coordinate their own national political works in contradiction to Church teaching. Support for the good works of Las Vegas Catholics who are already working to improve Vegas itself are thereby diminished.
The text of the Bishop’s letter to parishioners is as follows:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
On Tuesday, May 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom something quite remarkable will occur. Faith leaders and community members from all over the Las Vegas Valley will come together to focus on issues impacting families and to build an organizational response that offers great promise over time.
I encourage you to join me in attending this event. In addition to me, the Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopal bishops will be present with leaders from 65 churches, synagogues, mosques, schools and non-profits.
Many of our priests and parishes in the Diocese of Las Vegas are already encouraging or directly involved in this ground - breaking effort. This growing list includes: St. Christopher, Christ the King, St Andrew, Holy Family, St Peter, St John Neumann, St Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, and St Joseph, Husband of Mary. To those who aren’t, permit me to express my encouragement in the strongest possible terms that you send a delegation to discover what this work is all about. Please consider getting directly involved in this vital effort.
In these challenging times we hear the drumbeat of growing human needs in the Las Vegas Valley. Issues from human trafficking, particularly of minors, neighborhood crime and blight, the isolation of vulnerable elderly, immigrant integration and education require a deeply collaborative response.
The First Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good on May 22 is just such a response.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to step forward with others in a prayerful and constructive manner to help make our Valley a better place for children, for families, for the vulnerable, for all of us.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop Joseph A Pepe
On Tuesday, May 22, 6:30 – 8:30 pm at the UNLV Student Union Ballroom something quite remarkable will occur. Faith leaders and community members from all over the Las Vegas Valley will come together to focus on issues impacting families and to build an organizational response that offers great promise over time.
I encourage you to join me in attending this event. In addition to me, the Lutheran, Methodist and Episcopal bishops will be present with leaders from 65 churches, synagogues, mosques, schools and non-profits.
Many of our priests and parishes in the Diocese of Las Vegas are already encouraging or directly involved in this ground - breaking effort. This growing list includes: St. Christopher, Christ the King, St Andrew, Holy Family, St Peter, St John Neumann, St Thomas Aquinas Newman Center, and St Joseph, Husband of Mary. To those who aren’t, permit me to express my encouragement in the strongest possible terms that you send a delegation to discover what this work is all about. Please consider getting directly involved in this vital effort.
In these challenging times we hear the drumbeat of growing human needs in the Las Vegas Valley. Issues from human trafficking, particularly of minors, neighborhood crime and blight, the isolation of vulnerable elderly, immigrant integration and education require a deeply collaborative response.
The First Las Vegas Valley Community Convention for the Common Good on May 22 is just such a response.
I encourage you to take this opportunity to step forward with others in a prayerful and constructive manner to help make our Valley a better place for children, for families, for the vulnerable, for all of us.
Sincerely yours in Christ, Bishop Joseph A Pepe
Interestingly enough, not all these words are the Bishop’s own writing. It seems someone from the LVVISC/IAF has given him and other faith leaders a form letter that they can use to announce the event. You can also see the exact words our Bishop used in a letter from Christ the Servant Christian Church’s pastor, seen in the last paragraph of the May 2012 address. Like Bishop Pepe’s letter, this letter also goes on to describe how lots of other faith groups will also be supporting the effort. One may presume that since everyone else is doing it, then so should the Diocese of Las Vegas.
The information I am posting here regarding the IAF is simply the tip of the iceberg. Anyone wishing to fully understand the link between the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsorship Committee and the IAF can simply start searching online to find a plethora of connections between the two. Furthermore, the deeper one delves into the organizing tactics of the IAF, the more apparent it becomes that the establishment of the Las Vegas Valley Interfaith Sponsoring Committee is perfectly in line with the typical organizing efforts of the IAF, which is to use faith-based influence to improve their success. A list of IAF affiliates reveals a long list of localized “interfaith” organizations from Albuquerque, AZ to Washington, DC.
Further investigation into the Industrial Areas Foundation and its founder, Saul Alinksy, will also yield a lot of insight into the motives and belief system of the current group, which is diametrically opposed to the Catholic faith. Executive Co-Director of the IAF for the Southwest regions, Ernesto Cortes, Jr., has been integral to developing the “interfaith” organizing tactics among other organizing strategies that are employed by the IAF nationwide.
Rather than putting our time, talent and treasure into this “local interfaith” effort, why not support Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, Living Grace Homes, First Choice Pregnancy Center, or another local Catholic charity? Anything else scatters our time, talent and treasure. Las Vegas Catholics are already putting forth tremendous amounts of human and fiscal resources to combat the ills in our town. If we Catholics put forth effort to benefit the questionable ethics and goals of the LVVISC/IAF, those are resources that will be siphoned off from valuable social work that upholds Catholic teaching and that builds up the Kingdom of God.
For a thorough analysis of the AIF from a Catholic perspective, please see this treatise from CatholicCulture.org: A Commentary on the Industrial Areas Foundation
Supporting Documentation:
LVVISC statement of Affiliation with the IAF
Funding by local Catholic Congregations
This letter from the LVVISC to New Song Anthem Church requests financial contributions. It is likely that the Diocese has received similar requests for financial support.
The Blaze article on the link between Obama and the IAF
Call to Prayer:
God, eternal shepherd, you tend your Church in many ways and rule us with love. You have chosen your servant, Bishop Pepe, to be a shepherd of your flock. Give him a spirit of courage and right judgment, a spirit of knowledge and love. By governing with fidelity those entrusted to his care, may he build your Church as a sign of salvation for the world. Amen.
From A Catholic Prayer Book
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Msgr. McAuliffe Listed as Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom
This past Friday Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe was sentenced to 3 years in prison for the theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
But yet another unanswered question surfaces in relation to Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe.
Why is Msgr. McAuliffe listed as the Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Church (OLOW)?
Msgr. McAuliffe and Fr. Francis Vivona of OLOW are (or at least were) roommates supported by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Why does OLOW not have corporate board members that are officials of the Byzantine church hierarchy or who are parishioners of OLOW?
Perhaps an audit of OLOW is in order.
Call to Prayer:
~ Prayer to theVirgin Mary for Priests by Blessed John Paul II
But yet another unanswered question surfaces in relation to Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe.
Why is Msgr. McAuliffe listed as the Treasurer of Our Lady of Wisdom Byzantine Church (OLOW)?
Msgr. McAuliffe and Fr. Francis Vivona of OLOW are (or at least were) roommates supported by St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. Why does OLOW not have corporate board members that are officials of the Byzantine church hierarchy or who are parishioners of OLOW?
Perhaps an audit of OLOW is in order.
Call to Prayer:
O Mary,
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you the priesthood
of, your Son and of your sons,
O holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ,
to the Messiah-priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart and in the Church,
O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church,
in the midst of the disciples in the upper room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new people and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a full measure of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with him at the beginning
of his life and mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside him when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John, your son, near at hand;
accept from the beginning those who have been called,
protect their growth,
in their life ministry accompany your sons,
O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
Mother of Jesus Christ and Mother of priests,
accept this title which we bestow on you
to celebrate your motherhood
and to contemplate with you the priesthood
of, your Son and of your sons,
O holy Mother of God.
O Mother of Christ,
to the Messiah-priest you gave a body of flesh
through the anointing of the Holy Spirit
for the salvation of the poor and the contrite of heart;
guard priests in your heart and in the Church,
O Mother of the Savior.
O Mother of Faith, you accompanied to the Temple the Son of Man,
the fulfillment of the promises given to the fathers;
give to the Father for his glory
the priests of your Son,
O Ark of the Covenant.
O Mother of the Church,
in the midst of the disciples in the upper room
you prayed to the Spirit
for the new people and their shepherds;
obtain for the Order of Presbyters
a full measure of gifts,
O Queen of the Apostles.
O Mother of Jesus Christ,
you were with him at the beginning
of his life and mission,
you sought the Master among the crowd,
you stood beside him when he was lifted up from the earth
consumed as the one eternal sacrifice,
and you had John, your son, near at hand;
accept from the beginning those who have been called,
protect their growth,
in their life ministry accompany your sons,
O Mother of Priests.
Amen.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
No Financial Audits for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in 10 Years
In the last several months the scandal at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) has brought up a lot of questions along the lines of "Why did Msgr. McAuliffe do this?" and "How could he?"
But there is a far bigger question that faithful and concerned Catholics should be asking:
In the Diocese of Las Vegas, all parishes are required to provide financial statements, but in addition to this, all parishes are audited every few years. That is, all parishes except St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
According to a highly credible and trusted source familiar with the inner workings of the diocese, Msgr. McAuliffe had been refusing diocesan audits for years. According to my source, Msgr. McAuliffe claimed that an audit infringed on his rights as pastor of St. Elizabeth's and therefore insisted the parish not be audited. Now we know why.
While Msgr. McAuliffe and SEAS did provide the required financial statements (which we now know were falsified), the church was not actually subjected to an audit in approximately 10 years. For a parish with a multi-million dollar budget and one as big as SEAS, this is highly irregular.
So again, why did the Bishop allow Msgr. McAuliffe to refuse an audit of SEAS finances when all other parishes were subject to financial audits? This a question which has not been answered in his recent letter to SEAS parishioners, which you can read here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
But there is a far bigger question that faithful and concerned Catholics should be asking:
Why did Bishop Pepe avoid auditing SEAS for the entire duration of Msgr. McAuliffe's tenure as pastor?
In the Diocese of Las Vegas, all parishes are required to provide financial statements, but in addition to this, all parishes are audited every few years. That is, all parishes except St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.
According to a highly credible and trusted source familiar with the inner workings of the diocese, Msgr. McAuliffe had been refusing diocesan audits for years. According to my source, Msgr. McAuliffe claimed that an audit infringed on his rights as pastor of St. Elizabeth's and therefore insisted the parish not be audited. Now we know why.
While Msgr. McAuliffe and SEAS did provide the required financial statements (which we now know were falsified), the church was not actually subjected to an audit in approximately 10 years. For a parish with a multi-million dollar budget and one as big as SEAS, this is highly irregular.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe Pleads Guilty
According to articles published today in The Las Vegas Sun and the Review-Journal Msgr. McAuliffe has pled guilty to embezzling funds from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton from 2002 to 2010. This is a question of $650,000 that was siphoned off by Msgr. McAuliffe from various parish sources, including the gift shop, church missions and novenas.
Here are some other articles carrying the same story:
The Republic
KTNV
KTNV News Coverage
Perhaps this calls for a reminder regarding a previous post on this blog exposing the process for collecting novena money in this Diocese, and the fact that there is a lack of accounting for thousands of dollars worth of these donations. Read the novena post here. There is still no public response or investigation into this practice.
Priests are human, and not immune to the temptations of the devil. Please pray for Msgr. McAuliffe, our Bishop and all the priests of our Diocese who are subject to the temptations of the world.
Call to Prayer:
Here are some other articles carrying the same story:
The Republic
KTNV
KTNV News Coverage
Perhaps this calls for a reminder regarding a previous post on this blog exposing the process for collecting novena money in this Diocese, and the fact that there is a lack of accounting for thousands of dollars worth of these donations. Read the novena post here. There is still no public response or investigation into this practice.
Priests are human, and not immune to the temptations of the devil. Please pray for Msgr. McAuliffe, our Bishop and all the priests of our Diocese who are subject to the temptations of the world.
Call to Prayer:
O Almighty, Eternal God, look upon the Face of your Son and for love of him, who is the Eternal High Priest, have pity on your priests. Remember, O most compassionate God, that they are but weak and frail human beings. Stir up in them the grace of their vocation which is in them by the imposition of the bishop's hands. Keep them close to you, lest the enemy prevails against them, so that they may never do anything in the slightest degree unworthy of their sublime vocation. Amen.
~Richard James Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston, 1895-1970
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Parish Bulletin Confirms Federal Investigation
A letter from Fr. James Jankowski (Interim Administrator) for St. Elizabeth Ann Seton (SEAS) was published in the parish bulletin last weekend to address the concerns of parishioners regarding Msgr. Kevin McAuliffe's continued absence due to allegations of financial impropriety.
The letter states that the Federal authorities were initially contacted with the allegations of financial impropriety against Msgr. McAuliffe. The authorities then began their own investigation and subsequently notified the Bishop.
According the the letter, nothing can be resolved in bringing Msgr. McAuliffe back to SEAS until the Federal investigation has been completed.
You can read the full letter from Fr. Jankowski on pages 6 and 7 in the SEAS bulletin here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The letter states that the Federal authorities were initially contacted with the allegations of financial impropriety against Msgr. McAuliffe. The authorities then began their own investigation and subsequently notified the Bishop.
According the the letter, nothing can be resolved in bringing Msgr. McAuliffe back to SEAS until the Federal investigation has been completed.
You can read the full letter from Fr. Jankowski on pages 6 and 7 in the SEAS bulletin here.
Call to Prayer:
Lord God, your faithful sons and daughters are at your feet. Help us to fully give ourselves over to your Adorable Will and to trust completely in you. Bless your Holy Priests and Bishop, help and guide them so that they may always serve you first and foremost in all things. In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)