Long Island Voice of the Faithful, Inc.
P.O. Box 1007
Nesconset, NY 11767

FINANCE COMMITTEE:
Kevin J. Connors
James J. Godfrey, Jr.
Janet J . Godfrey
Roger Mahabirsingh
John K. Mulvey

January 28, 2003

Most Reverend William Murphy
Bishop of Rockville Centre
50 North Park Avenue Rockville Centre, NY 11570

Your Excellency:
Thank you for your response to our letter of December 27, 2002 regarding the Bishop’s Annual Appeal and financial openness. Our concerns about financial openness were, unfortunately, left unanswered. For example:

1. The letter states that the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is a Parish based appeal. But the
Parish merely acts as a conduit for the promotion and collection of contributions.

2. The Diocese organizes the Bishop’s Annual Appeal, sets revenue goals and administers the collection and distribution of funds.

3. The lay staff members who put the Diocesan budget together are not independent. They are employees.

4. Regarding the Finance Council, no information is provided . . .
Who are they?
How are they appointed?
To whom are they accountable?
What amount of financial oversight do they exercise, if any?

5. Regarding the Diocesan financial reports and audits that you refer to, what would be the scope, content, timing and distribution of these reports?

Most importantly the letter does not address the issue of “complete financial openness.” Long Island Catholics’ desire for accountability is not limited to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. With complete openness the laity will start to regain confidence and trust in our church.

In this respect, we reiterate our offer to come to the table. We offer our assistance in helping to achieve the restoration of confidence.

Sincerely,
Kevin J. Connors
Co-Chairman

James J. Godfrey, Jr.
Co-Chairman

John K. Mulvey
Co-Chairman

Janet Godfrey

Roger Mahabirsingh

Cc: Most Reverend John C. Dunne
Most Reverend Emil A. Wcela
Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Brennan
Pastors of the Diocese of Rockville Centre

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Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Brennan, vicar general, responded on behalf of Bishop Murphy.

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January 14, 2003

Mr. Kevin Connors
Long Island Voice of the Faithful Inc.
P.O Box 1007
Nesconset, NY 11767

Dear Mr. Connors,

In your letter of December 27, 2002, you and the other four members of the Finance Committee of the Long Island Voice of the Faithful, inc. offer your assistance with the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. After having read the letter and consulted with his colleagues, including members of the Diocesan Finance Council, the Bishop has asked me to respond in his name.

As you know, the Bishop’s Annual Appeal is largely organized at the parish level. The Bishop is pleased that you recognize the importance of the Bishop’s Annual Appeal for the life of this local Church and applauds you for your offer of assistance to the appeal. To that end, he asked me to urge each and every one of you to cooperate with your pastor and as a member of your parish, do everything in your power to assist the pastor and the parish committee in their commitment to making this years appeal a great success.

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal has been set up this year as in the past, after the Appeal Committee met and set goals for the Diocese which the Bishop accepted and made his own. It will function this year as in prior years, through the parish committees who are responsible to the pastor. The good works of the Diocese will be carried on to the extent that the appeal is able to fund this year’s budget, a budget that was drawn up by the lay members of the Diocesan staff and presented, in accordance with canon law, to the Diocesan Finance Council. The Diocesan Finance Council, composed of five lay persons and one religious, appointed in accord with the law of the Church to a five year term, none of them connected with the Diocesan structure, approved that budget and, with the Bishop, are counting on the support of the faithful to make it possible for this local church to fulfill her mission in the world of today. I am confident that this will receive the support of as many of the faithful as are able to contribute.

Last year the Bishop directed that the Diocesan financial reports and audits would be made public once they are prepared and presented to the Diocesan Finance Council. These reports will be published as each of them becomes available.

The past year has been difficult and demanding one for all who love the Church. You and I want what is best for the growth of the Kingdom of God here in the Diocese of Rockville Centre. We cannot let the difficulties of the past paralyze our life together this year and in the years to come, especially whey we have all worked to correct our past deficiencies. Perhaps more than at any other time in our history, we need to be united in love, understanding and forgiveness. It is my prayer that we may come together and work with one another to promote the Gospel and the work of Jesus here on Long Island.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Rev. Msgr. Robert J. Brennan
Vicar General

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The Long Island Voice of the Faithful Finance Committee sent a letter to Bishop Murphy requesting that he provide Long Island Catholics with complete financial openness regarding the 2003 Bishop’s Annual Appeal. The Committee did this in an effort to make the Bishop’s Annual Appeal a success in the face of expectations that this is likely to be a difficult year for fundraising. The text of that letter follows.

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December 27, 2002

Most Reverend William Murphy
Bishop of Rockville Centre
50 North Park Avenue
Rockville Centre NY 11570

Your Excellency:

We are writing to offer our assistance with the Bishop’s Annual Appeal. For many years, this Appeal has done tremendous good on Long Island on both the parish and diocesan levels.

We understand that you will soon be announcing your plans for the 2003 Bishop’s Annual Appeal. In the spirit of mutual concern and collaboration we feel obliged to share some of our thoughts and concerns with you. Clearly, this will be a difficult year in light of the many unfortunate realities that challenge our Church.

We believe that recent revelations will have an adverse effect on this year’s Appeal. Many Catholics are angered and disturbed by undue secrecy on the part of our spiritual leaders. We are convinced that complete financial openness is the path to success for this year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal.

The Finance Committee of the Long Island Voice of the Faithful is prepared to offer its assistance in helping the Diocese of Rockville Centre achieve the very worthy goal of financial openness with Long Island Catholics. As an independent group of Catholic laity, we would like to meet with you and your financial advisors to discuss the meaning of financial openness and to agree upon a procedure for how this can be accomplished. We have financial experts ready, willing and able to assist you and your experts in this endeavor. We are confident that the local press and the local Catholic community will support these efforts in a positive and responsive way.

As our Bishop, would you be willing to move in this direction and help to guide our beloved Church into the twenty-first century? We as the Long Island Voice of the Faithful would publicly support your efforts in this regard.

We are all aware of the time constraints we face, so we respectfully request your prompt response. Should we not hear from you by Friday, January 17th, 2003, we will assume that you have declined our offer.

This is a great opportunity to re-establish trust, restore unity and ensure the financial stability of our Diocese.

Sincerely,
Kevin J. Connors
Co-Chairman

James J. Godfrey, Jr.
Co-Chairman

John K. Mulvey
Co-Chairman

Janet Godfrey

Roger Mahabirsingh

Cc: Most Reverend John C. Dunne
Most Reverend Emil A. Wcela
Pastors of the Diocese of Rockville Centre