The Scrooge of Baltimore Cancels Christmas Mass, Crushing Polish Church With Impossible Tax
by James Grein
Catholic Confidential has reviewed a forensic accounting report commissioned by the parishioners of Sacred Heart of Mary Parish in Dundalk, Maryland, revealing financial exploitation by the Archbishop. The parish, with an average of $53,871 of pre-tax net income per year, was taxed at a rate of 131.76% by Archbishop Lori over eight years. After nonpayment of the excessive tax, Archbishop Lori ordered the parish’s closure, exposing a broader scheme threatening parishes worldwide.
The Scheme at a Glance
Bishops impose unpayable taxes, accumulate parish debt, and then declare parishes unsustainable. Before closure, parishes are merged, consolidating their debts. When a church is sold, the proceeds go to paying collective debt rather than supporting parishioners, contrary to canon law (c. 1263, c. 1254).
In September 2024, Archbishop Lori decreed Sacred Heart of Mary Parish would close by December 8, 2024, citing $97,000 in annual losses. What he omitted was that this entire deficit stemmed from Archdiocesan-imposed costs.
Over the last eight years (2016 to 2024), the following charges were imposed by the Archdiocese on $430,964 of pre-tax net income:
$567,843 in taxes (131.76%)
$363,779 in special assessments
Property insurance rising 286% from $23,663 in 2018 to $67,751 in 2024
Excluding these imposed expenses, the parish had remained financially viable.
Why Close a Profitable Parish?
Archbishop Lori claimed proceeds from closed churches would follow parishioners. However, his decree stated the assets would exclusively pay debt. Parishioners were also prohibited from renting the parish hall to serve the Hispanic community, despite appeals.
Below are screenshots detailing the difference between the Archbishop’s statements to parishioners and the press, and his signed canonical decree.
According to audit logs, records and an explanation from the parish accountant, sometime between 2022 and 2024, the Archdiocese’s Controller, Jane Andrews, imposed a $363,779 special assessment pertaining to 2017 financial activity. This was booked to a date at least five years later, 6/30/2022, as a charge to the parish for a lease default by AmeriCorps, the tenant of the parish school. Normally, the lessee (Americorps)—not the parish—would bear this cost. It is unclear how the Archdiocese would be a party to this transaction, and in any case, why the parish would owe the Archdiocese for income the parish did not receive.
This special assessment was added to the parish financials in a way that avoided revealing the loss on the income statement by booking it as a debit to retained earnings and a credit to long-term debt, bypassing expense accounts.
Despite a request for comment and confirmation regarding Jane Andrews involvement in this transaction, the Archdiocese of Baltimore Communications Director, Christian Kendzierski, has remained silent (the deadline was 12/14/2024).
Canon Law Violations
The report reveals violations of Canon 1263, which requires diocesan taxes to be moderate and proportionate. The current Cathedraticum tax in Baltimore steps up to 17% on gross donations (about 15% on average in this case), resulting in 131.76% taxation on net income. Excluding the Archbishop's tax and the unusual special assessment, Sacred Heart remains solvent with $581,467 in assets and -$361,629 in liabilities. Yet, the Archdiocese has forced insolvency based on arbitrary expenses they incurred.
A Larger Pattern of Parish Consolidation
Archbishop Lori’s planned closure of 40 churches this Christmas fits a broader trend of using over-taxation to drive parishes into debt and consolidate them. Church assets are then sold to pay off Archdiocesan liabilities rather than reinvesting in parish ministries.
Call for Vatican Intervention
Sacred Heart parishioners have appealed to the Vatican and launched shmcc.org to track the Archdiocese’s closure plans. Mass and confessions ceased at the parish on December 8, 2024. Despite this, the parish was poised to receive $249,132 from an estate disbursement—which requires that the money be used for this parish, specifically. This money is in jeopardy as it specifically was earmarked for the now closed parish, and not the archdiocese.
What Can You Do?
In addition to supporting the parishioners of Sacred Heart of Mary, consider reviewing the financial records of your own parish. Examine the income statement and balance sheet to identify if your bishop is accumulating excessive taxes as debt. If you uncover concerning patterns, advocate for lower diocesan taxes and seek forgiveness of back taxes as soon as possible.
Excellent article. Lori was our bishop for a while, and he was untrustworthy. He was known to lie to the priests and people, protect and hide active homosexual priests that were also engaged in major thefts and illegal activities. He is very concerned about his career and lifestyle. I suspect that part of his motivation to plunder this parish was that it was a faithful parish that may have question him or supported victims of the misdeeds of diocesan priests and employees.
Loris demands strict obedience to Him, not God. He is one of many bishops that uses the term and virtue of 'obedience' as a sword to silence and attack those that question him and a shield to protect himself from criticism.
Loris was known as slick willy by many here. He left a big debt. He did get a 'loan' from the Knights of Columbus for the Bridgeport Dioceses in excess of 20 million dollars to mostly abuse victims. He also got appointed the Knights of Columbus Chaplin with a stipend of $100,000.00 a year. Does he use and of this money to help victims or the poor in his dioceses?