Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
Since becoming your Bishop in August 2017, one of my priorities has been keeping you informed about important matters in the clergy abuse crisis.
I have provided information in the AD Times, on our website, and through emails like this, and I will continue to do so. I recognize the desire for transparency on this important topic, and I have made that one of my ongoing priorities.
I also have made it a priority to respond promptly to false or misleading information. Recently, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro took issue with the fact that the Diocese transferred two buildings to underfunded diocesan pension plans to help strengthen the plans. His implication was that these transactions were done in “secrecy,” and that we have not been transparent about them.
That is not the case.
These transactions were completely above board. All civil and canonical procedures were followed. Like all real estate transactions, they were a matter of public record, and open to public scrutiny.
Here are the facts:
The Diocese contributed its primary office building to our lay employee pension plan, and contributed the house I live in to the priest pension plan, as part of an ongoing effort over many years to shore up these underfunded plans.
The contribution of these two buildings strengthens the pension plans in two ways, by adding the appraised value of the assets to the plans, and by providing on-going income for the plans from monthly lease payments made by the Diocese.
I was aware that these real estate transfers were open to public scrutiny. I proceeded with these transfers as part of my commitment to continue to address the underfunding of the pension plans. Our dedicated employees and priests in good standing deserve as much.
I had been advocating for the contribution of the Bishop’s house to the priest pension plan already while I was Vicar General, before I became Bishop. I felt that contributing the house to the plan was appropriate because the priests pooled their own money to provide the house for Bishop McShea when he became the first Bishop of the Diocese at its formation in 1961.
The contribution of these buildings to the pension plans required consultations with the lay and clergy members of the Diocesan Pension Boards, the College of Consultors, and the Diocesan Finance Council.
Thank you for your consideration of these facts, so that you may be well-informed.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Alfred A. Schlert
Bishop of Allentown
