Has the Catholic church 'gone bust'?

[wolf63]

Near why I live is a monastery which is set in large grounds. The church want to sell off a part of the land so they can get money to allow them to meet the costs involved in improving the monastery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...side-central-13064818

I have no really strong views on this either way and can see the problem from both sides. If I lived nearer then maybe I would feel different.

My question is - why don't the catholic church just dig into the huge reserves of money that they have stashed away to pay for such costs?

[mxyzptlk]

Not all monasteries are associated with the Catholic church

[tamborine]

Most are self-supporting. All income gleaned will go towards their choice of exes.

[wolf63]

Now I am even more confused.

[wolf63]

If they are all self supporting why does the Pope and his henchmen have zillions of pounds stashed away?

[tamborine]

Who knows what the pope has stashed away, if anything ? Most of the stuff the present pope uses or has is accounted for by trustees of the faith. I dont see the pope with any personal property.

[tamborine]

The pope doesn't sport a gold watch

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Dalai_Lama

[jomifl]

The pope may not sport a gold watch but I noticed one of his bishops wearing a rolex a couple of months back. I guess if the pope wants to know the time he just asks the nearest bishop.

[Ankou]

land disposal is a commercial venture that schools, councils, hospitals and other organisations consider in order to boost funds for revenue.

i imagine the church and monastery are no different. a catholic shool where i grew up was sold off for redevelopment. it was turned into fancy flats and a football ground extension/ kerching.