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Author Topic: SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful  (Read 10689 times)

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Offline Jr1991

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SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful
« on: January 06, 2025, 01:39:26 PM »
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    • For years, concerns have been raised about SSPX’s questionable fundraising practices. The ongoing situation at the SSPX in Davie, Florida, exemplifies a pattern of secrecy, poor planning, and ever-changing financial goals. Here’s a recap that should alarm anyone invested in truth and accountability:

    • The Secretive Closure of St. Philomena Shrine (2020): During COVID-19, SSPX quietly closed the fully paid-off Shrine in Miami, funded by the late Fr. Hopkins. Parishioners weren’t consulted; instead, they discovered the decision through an online PDF announcing a “merger” of two chapels.
    • The Sale to Hostile Buyers: A year later, SSPX sold the chapel to an evangelical group known for persecuting Fr. Hopkins and local Catholics. This decision left many feeling betrayed.
    • COVID-Era Fundraising Success: SSPX launched a campaign at the Davie chapel to raise $1 million for a new church. With local Novus Ordo churches closed and many seeking refuge, the campaign exceeded its goal.
    • Unusable Land Purchase: SSPX hastily purchased a plot of land for over $1 million—land that wasn’t zoned for church use.
    • Zoning Variance Rejected: After two years, the zoning board rejected SSPX’s application for a variance, leaving the land unusable for its intended purpose.
    • Dubious “Land Swap” Proposal: Parishioners were then told the new plan was to pursue a complicated “land swap” with the county—an improbable solution that only delayed progress further.
    • Skyrocketing Fundraising Goals: By last year’s fourth annual gala, the goal had jumped to $2 million. With $2.5 million now raised, one might expect construction to begin. Yet SSPX has shifted the goalposts again—now demanding $7 million.


    The Real Question: Where is this money going, and why is SSPX stringing along the faithful with no clear plan or accountability?
    This isn’t just poor planning; it’s a betrayal of trust. The faithful deserve transparency—not shifting goals and excuses. If you have additional information, please share. It’s time to demand honesty from SSPX leadership.




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    Offline St Giles

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    Re: SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful
    « Reply #1 on: January 06, 2025, 03:38:07 PM »
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    • It must be considered that honest mistakes can be made, and that inflation has greatly increased over the past few years, though $7mil seems deceptive or greedy, it may be the only practical figure to afford a church in the desired area considering the current rate of inflation by the time $7mil is reached. Poor decision or not, it appears land alone is quite expensive as mentioned (>$1mil).

    These are hard times. You take what you can get, even if it's a sheet metal cathedral, and never give it up as much as possible. I'd be inclined to fundraise and build a faithful owned church for the SSPX to serve without legal power over the property, and conditions as to what can be done with the property, so it can't be abused by the faithful or SSPX, or any other likely threat.
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    Offline Giovanni Berto

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    Re: SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful
    « Reply #2 on: January 06, 2025, 04:51:29 PM »
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    • Secrecy is SSPX's modus operandi. Not just about money. About everything.

    I have heard that they will demand legal possession of the chapels to give people the sacraments. They will only say mass on someone else's property if it is a temporary solution, like on a mission, for instance.

    Frankly, I don't give them much money, and if they misuse it, it's their problem, not mine. I give in good faith. If money was the only problem, I would be very happy. There's just too much trouble in my life for me to care about how the SSPX handles the money. No disrespect to you intended, of course.

    The case does sound fishy, but if I were to bet money on it, I would bet on incompetence.
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    Offline Ladislaus

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    Re: SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful
    « Reply #3 on: January 06, 2025, 05:16:05 PM »
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    • Quote from: Giovanni Berto on January 06, 2025, 04:51:29 PM
    Secrecy is SSPX's modus operandi. Not just about money. About everything.

    I have heard that they will demand legal possession of the chapels to give people the sacraments. They will only say mass on someone else's property if it is a temporary solution, like on a mission, for instance.

    Frankly, I don't give them much money, and if they misuse it, it's their problem, not mine. I give in good faith. If money was the only problem, I would be very happy. There's just too much trouble in my life for me to care about how the SSPX handles the money. No disrespect to you intended, of course.

    The case does sound fishy, but if I were to bet money on it, I would bet on incompetence.

    Agreed, and the secrecy appears to be all about control and power.

    I've gone on about the various shenanigans I've seen where chapels (in sub-standard facilities) would collect (sometimes very sizable amounts of) funds to build a new church, and then the money evaporates after a new priest is sent in, never to be heard about again, so that they have to start over raising funds.  SSPX appear to have zero ethical constraints about taking that money which those who attend a chapel dedicate to a local purpose and using it to pay for projects like the seminary and the St. Mary's church, etc.  IMO that's immoral and constitutes theft, but they think some legal fine-print or reasoning that the "seminary benefits all Traditional Catholics) exonerates them, but I find it to be completely specious.
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    Offline Viva Cristo Rey

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    Re: SSPX Florida/Davie Fundraising Scandal: Mismanagement or Misleading the Faithful
    « Reply #4 on: January 07, 2025, 10:16:19 AM »
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    • Quote from: St Giles on January 06, 2025, 03:38:07 PM
    It must be considered that honest mistakes can be made, and that inflation has greatly increased over the past few years, though $7mil seems deceptive or greedy, it may be the only practical figure to afford a church in the desired area considering the current rate of inflation by the time $7mil is reached. Poor decision or not, it appears land alone is quite expensive as mentioned (>$1mil).

    These are hard times. You take what you can get, even if it's a sheet metal cathedral, and never give it up as much as possible. I'd be inclined to fundraise and build a faithful owned church for the SSPX to serve without legal power over the property, and conditions as to what can be done with the property, so it can't be abused by the faithful or SSPX, or any other likely threat.
    They could go somewhere land is reasonable. 
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