Leaving economic scandals behind....This is the goal of the Vatican as it starts a fresh chapter under new statutes.
Cardinal George Pell is the Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy. He says that looking forward, the expertise of the laity in money management, shouldn't be ignored by the Church. Their contributions, he said, should be welcomed.
CARD. GEORGE PELL
Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy
'For example, in my diocese in Australia, the majority were lay people and financial experts. We worked together and managed different affairs.â?
When Cardinal Pell briefed other cardinals about the Vatican's financial state and it's new principles of transparency, requests of finance management were also made on a more local level.
CARD. GEORGE PELL
Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy
'We're looking into the possibility of opening a center here in Rome so that dioceses can learn more about money management. Even the directors of pontifical universities are studying the possibility of offering a course for priests and the laity. It would deal with ecclesiology and social justice, but also on how to administer funds.â?
Even though there's been a lot of talk about reforms under Pope Francis, Pell says some of these reforms actually started under Benedict XVI.
CARD. GEORGE PELL
Prefect of the Secretariat for the Economy
'Benedict XVI wanted to improve the financial situation. One shouldn't think that under Benedict nothing was done, and now everything is happening.â?
MSGR. MARCELLO SEMERARO
Secretary of the Council of Cardinals
'With the Council of Cardinals, and the new economic statutes, we're now starting to scratch the surface of reforming the Roman Curia.â?
They say the new financial structure has been developed, now it's just a matter of implementing it.
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