Contact: R. T. Neary, Chairman, Coalition To Save Catholic Health Care, 508-359-4551, RTNeary@Verizon.net
BOSTON, Nov. 29, 2011 /Christian Newswire/ -- Anti-Catholicism has always been in style in Boston. The Boston Globe is its current standard-bearer.
Reveling in the decline of Roman Catholic influence under present Archdiocesan leadership, the Globe is now ignoring an independent audit for FY2010 for the Archdiocese's Caritas Christi Health Care System, which a year ago was assumed by a new subsidiary of the controversial Cerberus Capital Management L.P. of New York. Cerberus once had a "feeder fund" for Ponzi-schemer Bernard L. Madoff.
While reporting on facts involved in negotiations, the Globe has conveniently ignored the independent audit of Ernst & Young LLC, which now has affirmed the contentions of opponents, the Coalition To Save Catholic Health Care. Rather than Caritas being "troubled" or "struggling" as reported by the Globe throughout, the audit showed a profit of over $24 million, following a FY2009 profit of $30 million.
Also, a $260,000,000 unfunded pension liability reported to the Supreme Judicial Court is now shown on page 16 of the audit as $163,000,000 - $97,000,000 less. This is a stark difference.
The 6-hospital system, which in 2013 could be performing abortions in hospitals named St. Elizabeth's, and Holy Family, is part of a 148-yr history of Catholic health care in Massachusetts. An escape clause in the agreement, allows the Catholic identity to be dropped in 2013 for a $25 million donation to a charity designated by the Archbishop, should its Catholicity be deemed "materially burdensome."
"The 11-month delay in making the audit figures available on the Attorney General's website was obviously to move as far as possible beyond the takeover of Caritas Christi assets because of the discrepancies the audit exposed," said R. T. Neary, Chairman of the Coalition. "And to learn that David G. Spackman, the attorney from the AG's office who headed her oversight, has taken a position with the opposing law firm which represented Caritas throughout, exposes more of this scandal," he added.
"Although at least four Globe reporters have had by-lines on articles during the negotiations including a magazine cover 'puff piece' on Caritas CEO Ralph de la Torre, the Globe has been conspicuously absent about the audit's revelations," concluded Neary.
The Coalition believes that the Supreme Judicial Court should nullify the transfer of Caritas to Cerberus/Steward because of the irregularities and these audit revelations.
