From Beacon Hill to ‘Bishop Bling,’ clergy housing faces new scrutiny

From The Washington Post-

Bye-bye, “Bishop Bling.” So long, “Pastor Perks.” The so-called “Francis effect” may be real, at least when it comes to clerical housing, and could be coming to a church near you.

Pope Francis famously eschewed the trappings of the papal office, including deluxe digs in the Vatican’s Apostolic Palace, and the pressure of his example seems to be making itself felt.

Last week, the pontiff accepted the resignation of the most ostentatious offender, Franz-Peter Tebartz-van Elst of Limburg in Germany, aka “Bishop Bling” who spent a cool $43 million on a swank new residence and office complex while cutting staff.

Now Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta is the latest to feel the peer pressure. On Monday (March 31), Gregory responded to anger over his decision to move into a new $2.2 million home (pictured)  by repeatedly apologizing in a letter to his flock and saying he would explore the possibility of selling the mansion and moving into simpler quarters.

More here-

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/from-beacon-hill-to-bishop-bling-clergy-housing-faces-new-scrutiny/2014/04/01/8210a6f2-b9df-11e3-80de-2ff8801f27af_story.html

also here-

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2014/04/01/Archbishop-Wilton-Gregory-of-Atlanta-apologizes-for-building-2M-mansion/3501396382527/