Comments on: How much does it cost to *run* the Vatican? https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/ Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:05:37 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: bowser https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29272 bowser Sun, 05 Jan 2014 03:17:52 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29272 I'm suggesting what I think is the proper and moral way for a religion to behave. And they've evolved into self-serving bureaucracy just like the US Army, General Electric, CIA, and all other mature organizations. Which is wrong. But it's the reality, as you point out. I’m suggesting what I think is the proper and moral way for a religion to behave.

And they’ve evolved into self-serving bureaucracy just like the US Army, General Electric, CIA, and all other mature organizations.

Which is wrong. But it’s the reality, as you point out.

]]> By: Jody https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29244 Jody Sat, 04 Jan 2014 18:40:33 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29244 ...you are gonna make me delve into the real issues, eh? Get back to you... …you are gonna make me delve into the real issues, eh?

Get back to you…

]]> By: TB https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29242 TB Sat, 04 Jan 2014 17:46:25 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29242 <p>Why the heartburn?</p> If you <a href="http://www.economist.com/node/21560536" rel="nofollow">look at the U.S. Catholic Church spending numbers alone,</a> ignore hospitals, schools, and universities and only count just the category "charities" ($4.7 billion), we're still talking an amount about fifty times the overhead costs of Vatican City, and those overhead costs are largely paid by tourists. This isn't really an issue, is it? Why the heartburn?

If you look at the U.S. Catholic Church spending numbers alone, ignore hospitals, schools, and universities and only count just the category “charities” ($4.7 billion), we’re still talking an amount about fifty times the overhead costs of Vatican City, and those overhead costs are largely paid by tourists.

This isn’t really an issue, is it?

]]> By: Jody https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29241 Jody Sat, 04 Jan 2014 17:30:58 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29241 I know that will never change until the great singularity....and then Jabba the Hut takes over. Still gives me heartburn, though. I know that will never change until the great singularity….and then Jabba the Hut takes over.

Still gives me heartburn, though.

]]> By: TB https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29238 TB Sat, 04 Jan 2014 15:14:46 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29238 <p>The opulence of the Vatican is centuries old.</p> The Pope is no more responsible for it than a "progressive" is for living in the White House and flying a personal 747 around. The opulence of the Vatican is centuries old.

The Pope is no more responsible for it than a “progressive” is for living in the White House and flying a personal 747 around.

]]> By: DanS https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29237 DanS Sat, 04 Jan 2014 14:21:26 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29237 The Vatican ain't for the poor. It's kept up for international dignitaries. Pure politics. You gotta suffer the slings and arrows, b. If you expect more from Christianity, then this religion ain't for you, 'cause it ain't changin' any time soon. The Vatican ain’t for the poor. It’s kept up for international dignitaries.

Pure politics.

You gotta suffer the slings and arrows, b. If you expect more from Christianity, then this religion ain’t for you, ’cause it ain’t changin’ any time soon.

]]> By: bowser https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29233 bowser Fri, 03 Jan 2014 23:42:12 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29233 When asked about liberating the Iraqi people instead of so many others who needed liberating, said that even if you can't liberate them all you can liberate some. (Still peddling the idea that Iraq was about "liberation" of an oppressed people.) I think it's the principle. Even if the wealth of the Vatican wouldn't buy all Roman Catholics out of poverty, those spiritual leaders should live modestly, sparsely so as to be in touch with the congregants. That opulence is absolutely obscene, even if you consider it's a sovereign nation. When asked about liberating the Iraqi people instead of so many others who needed liberating, said that even if you can’t liberate them all you can liberate some. (Still peddling the idea that Iraq was about “liberation” of an oppressed people.)

I think it’s the principle. Even if the wealth of the Vatican wouldn’t buy all Roman Catholics out of poverty, those spiritual leaders should live modestly, sparsely so as to be in touch with the congregants.

That opulence is absolutely obscene, even if you consider it’s a sovereign nation.

]]> By: DanS https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29226 DanS Fri, 03 Jan 2014 17:59:54 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29226 ...the pews and coffers still need to be full. …the pews and coffers still need to be full.

]]> By: ER https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29225 ER Fri, 03 Jan 2014 12:15:31 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29225 And if all the Church's vast treasures, enterprises and properties were liquidated into cold hard cash, it wouldn't even scratch the surface of world poverty. And isn't it strange how those same excuses keep on popping up over and over again? And if all the Church’s vast treasures, enterprises and properties were liquidated into cold hard cash, it wouldn’t even scratch the surface of world poverty.

And isn’t it strange how those same excuses keep on popping up over and over again?

]]> By: bowser https://www.habitablezone.com/2014/01/02/how-much-does-it-cost-to-run-the-vatican/#comment-29223 bowser Fri, 03 Jan 2014 06:04:51 +0000 http://habitablezone.com/?p=41977#comment-29223 I personally think that the spiritual leader of so many poor people should be ashamed of itself, and the opulence of the Vatican is enough all by itself to demonstrate it is not an organization based upon the tenets of Christ. As Max Weber points out, it has become a bureaucracy dedicated to it's own survival, not an organization devoted to bringing spiritual awareness to it's members. I told that to a devout Roman Catholic the other day. She replied that the people, the Roman Catholics in the field, the practicing folks wanted it that way. They are the ones who fund it, who maintain it, not one makes them do it. I think that is pure bullshit. I do think the new Pope is a breath of fresh air. The woman with whom I was talking thinks he's the Devil himself. Seriously. I personally think that the spiritual leader of so many poor people should be ashamed of itself, and the opulence of the Vatican is enough all by itself to demonstrate it is not an organization based upon the tenets of Christ. As Max Weber points out, it has become a bureaucracy dedicated to it’s own survival, not an organization devoted to bringing spiritual awareness to it’s members.

I told that to a devout Roman Catholic the other day. She replied that the people, the Roman Catholics in the field, the practicing folks wanted it that way. They are the ones who fund it, who maintain it, not one makes them do it.

I think that is pure bullshit.

I do think the new Pope is a breath of fresh air. The woman with whom I was talking thinks he’s the Devil himself. Seriously.

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