Franciscan Management of Finances

Book excerpt: In the final document of the General Chapter of 2009, Bearers of the Gift of the Gospel, the chapter delegates stated clearly their intention that any document issuing from the Chapter should be a message that “inspires and animates the daily life of the brothers rather than a doctrinal document” (BGG, 2). They further declared that they wanted to place themselves and all of the friars “in the context of the life, needs, questions and challenges of our people” (BGG, 4). They reinforced this concern later in the document, when they stated: “The spirituality that nourishes our life and evangelizing mission is never foreign to the life of our peoples and what concerns them” (BGG, 30). One of the more serious concerns among the members of the Chapter relates to the “ethical use of financial resources in solidarity,” a theme that has come to the fore following the collapse of the global economic architecture beginning in 2008, and its lingering negative consequences in all regions of the world. Concerns regarding the ethical use of financial resources are found in Mandates 43, 54 and 55 of Bearers of the Gift of the Gospel. They reflect a much broader concern regarding economic activity and the role of ethics in promoting the common good, as has been repeatedly expressed by the Church in her Social Teaching. These same concerns were examined by the Union of Superiors General in 2002, in the document entitled Economy and Mission in the Consecrated Life Today. In 2011 the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, in its reflection on the world economy, Towards Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public Authority, states that “The economic and financial crisis which the world is going through calls everyone, individuals and peoples, to examine in depth the principles and the cultural and moral values at the basis of social coexistence. What is more, the crisis engages private actors and competent public authorities on the national, regional and international level in serious reflection on both causes and solutions of a political, economic and technical nature.” And more recently, Pope Francis, in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii gaudium (November 2013), states clearly that ethics and economy can no longer be divorced but must be united in their promotion of the common good (cf. num. 52-60, 203-207, et passim). The present document addresses all of these concerns, but it is a specific response to Mandate 54 of the General Chapter, which calls for “a program for Initial and Ongoing Formation that will educate the Entities of the Order on the theme of finances, paying particular attention to transparency, solidarity and ethics” (BGG, Mandate 54). The General Administration offers this document as a source of reflection and also as a challenge to all friars, to be used for both Ongoing and Initial Formation throughout the Order. My special thanks go to the Office of Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and to the General Treasurer for their essential contribution in its elaboration, along with the many friars and members of the General Definitorium who offered helpful suggestions and comments. We pray that this reflection will help us to live more faithfully our Franciscan commitment to the Gospel through an ethical use of resources in favor of the poor.