I notice that 999 got information from sources other than reputable news organizations.

One reason that Catholic dioceses appear to be so wealthy, is the centralized financial structure. Most Catholic parishes and schools are operated locally, but the bishop holds the title to the property. Our diocese has a hundred parishes, and maybe fifty schools. That's a lot of assets, but they are being used by a lot of people. If the schools were to close, that would be a heavy burden on taxpayers, because all those children would then be educated in public schools.

And that's the crux about my statement about the wealth of the Catholic Church. Yes, it has a lot of assets - but it also has somewhere around a billion members to use those assets.

-Joe-