crime pays

By Diogenes ( articles ) | May 13, 2005

Scenario #1: You are the head of a large charitable organization. For 16 years, you have been conducting annual fund drives, telling donors that the funds will go to needy people. Actually you've been using the funds for normal operating expenses, and the needy people are getting needier every year. The truth comes out. What happens to you? You go to jail.

Scenario #2: You are the CEO of a mid-sized corporation. For 16 years, you have failed to contribute as promised to the employees' pension fund, using those funds to boost corporate earnings. Now the pensions are vastly underfunded, and you can't pay what you owe. What happens to you? You go to jail.

Scenario #3: You are the archbishop of a major American see. For 16 years, you collected money for the priests' retirement fund, but diverted the funds to operating expenses. Now the priests' pensions have to be cut. What happens to you? You remain archpriest of a major Roman basilica.