I happened to be reading a 'Poten' post when I saw a user claiming to be a 'Catholic' leave a comment like that.
I have my doubts about how you're supposed to have 'democratic' appointments in the Catholic Churchโa system with a strict vertical hierarchy topped by the Popeโbut more importantly, is it actually true that the financial status of each diocese (administrative orgs ruled by Pope-appointed bishops, basically the religious version of a local gov) is hidden behind a veil?
I don't know if that user is even a real believer or which diocese they belong to, but it's hard to agree with them. The Seoul Archdiocese, which has the most followers in Korea (approx. 1.5 million) and is the oldest (est. 1831), has been disclosing its financial statements every single year since 2007. It's not in some secret location either; it's printed right in the weekly bulletin you grab at the entrance every time you go to Mass. If that person is a member of the Seoul Archdiocese, they're either 'chilled' (inactive) and not attending Mass, or they just don't bother reading the bulletin.
Like clockwork, the Seoul Archdiocese published its balance sheet and income statement for the past two years (2024 and 2023) in the July 20th bulletin. Looking at this, the total assets for the Seoul Archdiocese last year were 1,772,634,988,490 KRW, with an operating profit of 30,995,700,500 KRW. As you can see, the main source of income is obviously the offerings made by believers during Mass, but the revenue from affiliated institutions is also pretty massive.
The Seoul Archdiocese's affiliated institutions that even non-believers would recognize are likely in education and healthcare. Famous schools include Catholic University (Theology in Hyehwa, Medicine/Nursing in Banpo, and the rest in Bucheon), Dongseong High School, and Gyeseong Elementary. For healthcare, there are 8 St. Mary's Hospitals across the country, starting with Seoul St. Mary's in Gangnam.
If you suspect someone is hiding something, why not try a Google search before opening your mouth? In the vast ocean of information, there might be way more 'secrets' already 'made public' than you think. - The End -
"The community dunks on the original commenter for being a 'fake believer' since anyone who actually goes to church knows the finances are printed on the back of every weekly bulletin. Users also point out that the commenter has a history of lying on the forums."
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