almsgiving III

By Diogenes ( articles ) | Jul 02, 2004

Suppose you're the lay president of a Benedictine university. According to your university's tax return (a public record), your salary is $194,849 (plus $11,691 for benefits, plus $29,850 for expenses and other allowances). Having prayed and worked, you turn your thoughts to almsgiving, and you're inspired to give away $250. To whom, or what, do you direct your alms?

(a) Like many laity concerned about the sacred liturgy, you give to Adoremus.

(b) Like many laity concerned about the religious life, you give to a thriving Benedictine monastery like Solesmes or Clear Creek.

(c) Like Planned Parenthood executive director Judith Barringer, you give $250 to the Prairie Political Action Committee, which has distributed $125,000 to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates (and $0 to the GOP and Republican candidates) in the past two years.

If you're William J. Carroll, president of Benedictine University in Illinois, your answer is (c). And you wouldn't be alone: Benedictine University development director Bradley F. Carlson has given $1,075 to the Democratic Party and Democratic candidates (including $400 to Gore-Lieberman) since 2000.