Mr. Tim Healy, President
Catholic Services Appeal Foundation
12805 Highway 55, Suite 210
Plymouth MN 55441
Dear Mr. Healy:
I do not contribute to the Catholic Services Appeal because there are some ministries I wish to support,
and others where I believe that my contribution would not be effective in supporting the ideals of
Vatican II and the leadership of Pope Francis. Let me give two examples.
I strongly support the work of Catholic Charities and their advocacy arm, the Office of Social Justice.
Historically, Catholic Charities receives only about 3% of its funding from the Catholic Services
Appeal. So I have concluded that I can support its work more effectively by contributing directly to
Catholic Charities.
In contrast, I hesitate to support the St. Paul Seminary and the College Seminary at this time. A
colleague and I, both retired college professors, did an extensive study of both seminaries in spring
2016. Our investigation included interviews with past and current seminary personnel, including the
rectors of both seminaries. We concluded that significant reforms were needed at both seminaries.
I am enclosing our report, part of a larger Pastoral Recommendations Project that we presented to
Archbishop Hebda in June 2016. ** He has promised a meeting with us, but it has not yet happened.
Later
in 2016, the book
Seminary Reform
by Sister Katarina Schuth, professor at the St. Paul Seminary, was
published. We gave Archbishop Hebda a copy of this book in November 2016, together with a letter
highlighting pertinent points which echoed the findings of our investigation (letter enclosed).
Rather than simply tossing your materials, I thought I would explain my reasons for not contributing. It
appears to me that the Foundation just goes on year after year supporting the same ministries, without
having any input into how the work of these ministries is being conducted.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Tauer
** The report to which Carol refers is available on page 33 of the document posted
here.
