|
There are various topics connected with this
issue:
28. The attributes and role of the administrators: It is important to define clearly the
sometimes original administrative approach of a religious treasurer or other
person responsible for the assets. It is not always easy to combine evangelical
requirements with tax or financial legislation. This task deserves pastoral
attention and a good description of the role or functions to be carried out.
Until now this service has been performed with honesty, but with little
preparation in the area of finance and, often, treasurers have carried out
their tasks without due training and with limited information. They have made
use of systems of “household administration” that hardly ever give good
results. It is therefore necessary to formulate and describe a new profile for
treasurers.
29. The new factors that must be taken into consideration in managing the assets of a
Religious Institute: there are new elements, both internal and external, which
must be given their weight in the management of religious’ assets. It is
important to define them so that the most appropriate decisions can be taken.
o Administration of assets and globalisation
o Administration of assets and management
techniques
o Administration of assets and control of such
administration: opportunities for auditing and consultation; visits at
provincial or general level to enable better monitoring of those responsible
for the finances; approval and review of budgets and accounts.
o How to interpret and explain what is meant
by a simple and prophetic (perceptive and forward-looking) lifestyle when faced
with a liberal, consumer-oriented and globalised economy.
30. Administration of assets and poverty: It is important to specify precisely the
meaning and extent of collective poverty and institutional poverty. Moreover,
it becomes very difficult to practise personal poverty without sound
administration of assets, whilst at the same time this sound administration helps
us to practise poverty properly in the context of the consumer society in which
we live.
31. Administration and ethics: we must clarify the ethical problems relating to the economy: ethical
banking, fair trade conducted in a spirit of social responsibility, alternative
investments…
32. Administration and use of assets and prophecy (perception and
foresight). In order to
give credibility to the CL it is necessary to treat personal and shared assets with
an evangelical outlook, freely, simply, with generosity and trust in the Lord.
We must not be afraid to distinguish clearly between the evangelical life and
professional management because these are two different levels that must
complement each other.
|