Saturday, June 30, 2007

Lifestyles of the pious and shameless

from the Cleveland Plain Dealer:

How much house does a religious leader need?

What do you think? A nice country home somewhere in the woods of England or Scotland? Perhaps Grosse Pointe, Michigan, former home of many GM execs? No, it's one of the neighboring homes of the Cleveland Episcopal diocesan bishop Mark Hollingsworth Jr. I couldn't find a picture of his Shaker Heights home, which he and his family purchased for $1.66 million dollars, that is comparable in style and structure to this one. Go to the listing site and click on the pictures to see the interior.


Granted, it's not the Vatican, but really, how much entertaining can a bishop do? Besides, all sorts of cavorting could be going on in those upper rooms with no one the wiser. A smaller home assures an accountable intimacy between guests and less chance of scandal, financial or otherwise. Then there's that line about a camel and a needle. The bishop's lot is 2.4 acres--enough grazing room for at least one camel, I'd say.

5 comments:

OneSmallStep said...

Can something still be called a single family home if it's that big?

Cynthia said...

The Taj Mahal was built for a king's bride. Some movie stars live homes much bigger, as do CEOs of large corporations and crowned heads of state. Even the White House is a single family home, when you think of it.

It does seem frightfully wrong, though, doesn't it? Especially when there are folks living in squalor.

Mystical Seeker said...

Wow. This bishop must be keeping a really huge needle in a storage room somewhere.

It is funny how so much wealth ends up in the hands of so many church leaders. All that talk about following Jesus rings rather hollow in the face of the lives that the leadership within some churches live.

Kind of leaves a sour taste in my mouth.

June Butler said...

Paraphrasing Mammy, "It ain't fittin', Miz Cynthia. It jes' ain't fittin'."

Cynthia said...

Mystical, as I've said before, just because one can does not mean one should. Enjoyed reading your post on this one.

Mimi, amen. (The only Butterfly McQueen line I can remember is "But Miz Scarlett, I don't know nuthin' about birthin' no babies!")