Pope Francis removed the man known as the Bishop of Bling after learning of a $42 million renovation product for the bishop’s residence.
Months after urging priests to ditch flashy cars in favor of more humble modes of transportation, Pope Francis suspended the German bishop with the nickname “the Bishop of Bling” after he caught wind of the price tag for renovating the bishop’s residence. At the moment, that figure is in the range of $42 million, but it is possible that it could rise as high as $55 million.
The renovation includes work in several historic buildings that must meet special regulations because of the historic nature of the structures themselves, but also reportedly includes artwork and a $20,000 bathtub.
Seriously, I don’t know what a $20,000 bathtub does to make it cost that much, but if I had that kind of cash and shelled out that much money for a tub, I’d expect it to gently lift me out of bed, place me in the perfectly-heated water and wash me itself.
But wait: there’s more! The Christian Science Monitor also lists items like built-in cupboards and carpentry that cost $474,000 and chapel windows worth $135,000. CSM puts a $600,000 estimate on the artwork.
USA Today reports the bishop is also under investigation in Germany over an allegation that he gave false testimony in court. In that particular case, the bishop sued a German magazine over an article that claimed he flew first class in a 2012 trip to India; the Diocese claimed the bishop paid for coach but was upgraded with frequent flier miles.
But the real rub in Germany centers on how the church receives money for such expenditures:
“In Germany, Christian taxpayers who belong to the church are required to pay 8%-10% of their income to support the church’s operations. The church is not required to disclose its financial numbers publicly, but four main dioceses opened their books this month in response to an outcry over the scandal.”
When requirements come into play with one’s money, versus obedience, you can bet people will demand to know more about how the money is being spent.
And when you have a Pope who chooses not to live in the lavish quarters his predecessor used in favor of a more modest apartment, it’s not a surprise that he’d be concerned over such costly renovations.
Your Turn:
Do you think the Pope did the right thing in suspending the bishop? Do you think the message about living more modestly comes through with Pope Francis’s action?
Yes, I think he was right in suspending the bishop and I think his message is resonating with the church members but I don’t think it is being well received by the church hierarchy.