Media Spotlight: Patrick Hornbeck Weighs in on Vatican Strengthening its Financial Oversight

It’s not every day that publications focusing on corporate compliance and governance feature pieces about Pope Francis. But on May 21st, the Wall Street Journal’s “Risk and Compliance Journal” did just that, and featured a Fordham faculty member’s quote with it.

Journal columnist Gregory Millman says Pope Francis “appears to be taking a leaf from the corporate compliance playbook with major reforms of the Vatican’s governance and finances, aimed at guarding the Holy See’s reputation and making its dealings more transparent.”

The Vatican’s anti-money-laundering unit, the Financial Information Authority, on May 20 released its first annual report, and Millman reports that compliance changes at the Vatican go much further, and include establishing three new bodies with jurisdiction over finance and administration.

The essentials of the new governance structure were sketched out by Pope Francis in a February document called a Motu Proprio.

The objective is to bring 21st-century governance to an ancient organization whose traditional administration was inadequate to prevent the well-publicized scandals of recent years, Millman says:

“The first of the new Vatican organizations is a Council on the Economy, whose membership includes eight cardinals and seven lay experts. The second new unit, a Secretariat for the Economy, is equal in rank to the Vatican Secretariat of State. It reports directly to the Pope, and has jurisdiction over operational matters including controls, policies and procedures, purchasing and human resources. The third element of the new governance structure is an independent auditor general.”

Millman also says “Pope Francis’s governance changes also strike a blow against one of his bête noires: clericalism, or excessive deference to the clergy even in areas where clerical status is irrelevant.” And this is where a Fordham theology expert weighs in:

Patrick Hornbeck, professor and chair of the theology department at Fordham University in New York, said that the new structure’s provision for sharing of power between clergy and laity is “a significant and a distinctive feature of the emerging style of Francis’s papacy,” explaining, “I think that Pope Francis is recognizing that, with respect to issues like the economy, lay experts who deal in matters of finance and governance and compliance for a living might be better positioned to advise him on these issues than members of the clergy might.”

Read the whole piece here (subscription required).

-Gina Vergel

Fordham Jesuits and Faculty Discuss Pope Francis in the Media

Pope Francis (Image via Wikipedia)

Buzzworthy is not a word one would normally associate with a global religious leader, but it’s apropos for Pope Francis. 

The news media is greatly interested (rightfully so) in what the Pontiff has to say, and, naturally, it results in opportunities for Jesuits and faculty from Fordham University to offer analysis.

A 12,000-word interview published on Sept. 19 by major Jesuit publications around the world, including the New York-based America magazine, created the latest “buzz.” In the exclusive interview, Pope Francis said that the Roman Catholic Church has become disproportionately obsessed with condemning abortion, gay marriage, and contraception.

Father Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, will discuss the Pope's insightful interview on the Charlie Rose show on Friday evening. He'll be joined by Father Matt Malone, S.J., editor of America. Check local listings here. 

“The interview brims with Pope Francis' fundamental optimism about human beings – and his confidence in our ability, individually and collectively, to discern what is good and what is of God,” J. Patrick Hornbeck, Ph.D., chair of the department of theology, told The Christian Science Monitor.

Hornbeck also gave an interview on television about the Pontiff, as did colleagues, Maureen Tilley, Ph.D., and Father John J. Shea, S.J. Watch below:

Maureen Tilley, Ph.D., professor of theology, on WPIX.

Patrick Hornbeck, Ph.D., chair of theology, on Al Jazeera America.

Father John J. Shea, S.J., director of campus ministry at Lincoln Center, of WPIX.

Don't forget to keep up with Fordham news on Twitter and Facebook, where we update faculty in the news often.

- Gina Vergel

Father McShane, Fordham Community, Hail First Jesuit Pope

Joseph M. McShane, S.J., president of Fordham, members of the University's Jesuit community, and Fordham theology faculty have been contributing to the global conversation marking the historic day in the history of the Catholic Church--the naming of the first Jesuit pope, Pope Francis I.

Father McShane appeared on Charlie Rose just hours after the naming of the new pope, where guest host Frank Bruni asked him what advice he'd give the new pontiff.

"You know Holy Week is almost upon us," he said. "On Holy Thursday, do not wash the feet of seminarians or priests, Bring in to St. Peters the poor the forgotten, the lonely, the outcast, the people that the world thinks little of and would turn away from, and on that day, wash their feet."

Bloomberg carried a short clip of the interview (below), but for the full roundtable discussion click here.


After giving live analysis for The Wall Street Journal's website, Terrence Tilley, Ph.D., Avery Cardinal Dulles, S.J., Chair in Catholic Theology and chair of the department, noted that the Conclave had elevated the global recognition of New York's own Archbishop, Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The paper later quoted Tilley as saying the exposure "gives [Dolan] a kind of boost that is quite remarkable...He becomes more of an influential person, a kingmaker in clerical and Vatican circles." That quote was later picked up by NY1's Pat Kiernan for the station's "In the Papers" segment.

In a column published by Fox News Latino, J. Patrick Hornbeck III, Ph.D., assistant professor of theology, noted the new pope's break from tradition from the first greeting of the masses in Rome: "Eschewing the tradition of his recent predecessors, the new pope chose not to wear the elaborate papal mozzetta, or short velvet cape, when he appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. Instead, Francis I presented himself to the world in a simple white cassock, a sartorial choice that will no doubt have left some traditionalists aghast."

Maureen Tilley, Ph.D., professor of theology, discussed the subtext of Pope Francis' Jesuit vow of poverty. "He's not just there for show," she told PIX 11. 

Charles Camosy, Ph.D., assistant professor of Theology, appeared on AOL.on News
"Taking the name 'Francis' I think is a major signal he is sending to everyone about who he is going to be, and on what side he is going to be--he is going to be on the side of the poor . . . leading a simple life."