Looking back on the past four months offers a surprising perspective. I have made many trips in my life, including a five-week walking pilgrimage, but nothing compares to the journey of being a church worker at this time. It’s hard to remember everything, and looking ahead carries its own challenges. What a reminder to remain rooted in the present moment with God.
When the closure of Covid-19 began, the parish where I work in New York State entered a period of uncertainty. It is a busy and prosperous parish, and as a pastoral associate for administration, I am well aware of our budget and what it takes to keep the parish up and running. Aside from wages, there are utility bills, regular maintenance of multiple buildings, parking repairs, and more. The costs of catechetical materials, technology for daily operations, and liturgical and office supplies increase over time. I was sure there was a layoff or leave coming.
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But despite the suspension of masses, our phones continued to ring. People were arriving with both spiritual and material needs. Sometimes they simply sought the comfort of knowing that there was still a light on in the church for them. However, could we still be a refuge?
People were looking for the comfort of knowing that there was still a light on in the church for them. However, could we still be a refuge?
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Now I can see that God’s grace includes many things, such as the generosity of our parishioners. It also includes the Federal Government’s Paycheck Protection Program. When the possibility of applying for loans arose, I was first horrified and did not want to search for it. I was concerned that it was somehow unethical. However, as the process progressed, and as the person responsible for gathering information and documentation, I began to see things in a new light.
Last week, a report in the Associated Press article released numerous misconceptions about PPP and the Catholic Church. Its headline screamed: “The Catholic Church lobbied for taxpayer funds, got $ 1.4B.” An attached photo of the luxurious interior of St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City implied that the church was taking funds to maintain employment in small businesses and using it for other purposes instead.
The gut reaction to the church that received such funds was understandable, but the reality is another story. The AP’s misstatements made a confusing article that would surely stoke fires of anger. The author stated that a typical diocese should not be eligible for the program because, as a single entity (one that allegedly includes “headquarters, parishes, and other affiliates”), its workforce exceeds 500 employees. That statement helped create a highly clickable story, but it was inaccurate. In fact, nonprofit and religious groups were granted a 500-employee limit exemption that still applies to private sector companies applying for aid. Additionally, each parish was eligible to apply for PPP funds individually. I estimate that most parishes in the Diocese of Albany have fewer than 20 employees each. If the purpose of the AP article was to report, it failed.
The gut reaction to the church that received such funds was understandable, but the reality is another story.
The anger generated by the article revealed a misunderstanding of the church’s financial structure and management. The lack of clarity about these things is often because the church is not clear about its structures and finances, but the journalist’s job was to reveal the truth, and this was not all.
What happened at the diocesan level is unknown to me, but I can address how an individual parish applied for the loan and put it to good use. We work closely with our small local bank to apply. Our diocesan finance office ensured that we had all the information necessary to obtain the loan, but it was up to us to handle the details. The bank clearly explained the program’s requirements, which included one-month documentation of payroll costs. (This was so that no applicant could extract a number from scratch and request that amount). The loan was worth 2.5 months in wages. I can tell you, at least in our case, that this amount was not enough to be considered a theft of money.
Would it be better for our staff to go without pay and add to the current problems? Would it be better if we were not present to do God’s work?
When our pastor signed the application, he agreed to meet the requirements for the loan. This meant that anyone who had been suspended or fired due to the pandemic had to be reinstated. Any unused salary fund could be used for public services. The use of funds for mortgages or rentals was also allowed (but we don’t have any of those costs). The money could not be allocated for anything nonessential.
It is important to consider the highest value of this loan for our parish and the community at large. We can be here for the people who need us, which has not been an insignificant number.
People who are lonely, sad, scared, or grieving can find someone to talk to. We have written notes and letters to cheer up those confined to their home, a term that took on greater meaning when almost everyone had to be there. We have launched an initiative where we call to register all registered parishioners with the help of staff and volunteers. It was something we feared might upset some people, but we learned that many loved to hear from us.
If someone requires more than pastoral assistance, we offer material support in the form of food, gas cards or other goods. We stream mass four days a week and offer live Facebook events. During Lent, we offered a weekly soup lunch, complete with contactless delivery. Our city leadership asked us to coordinate with them on a meal program. Thanks to generous donations to that effort, we purchased gift cards from local restaurants. These gift cards are used to help feed the elderly and homebound, and help local businesses continue in an uncertain environment.
If this was all a money theft or a scam to use funds for something nefarious, I can’t imagine how it would be done. Before criticizing the inclusion of religious organizations in the PPP, our true Catholicity calls us not to assume the worst. There are many reasons to be cynical or angry about the state of our world and our church, but this should not be one of them.
Would it be better for our staff to go without pay and add to the current problems? Would it be better if we were not present to do God’s work? Given the great needs of our time, I am beyond measure grateful for the PPP. Along with the generous members of our community, it has kept us going.
Editor’s Note: America Media applied for and was approved for a Salary Protection loan in the amount of $ 314,000.
