The Oblate missionaries seemingly wanted to take a collection for the poor. While being in favour of the principle, Eugene sounds a note of caution regarding clarity and transparency. The people who are giving money must be absolutely clear that the beneficiaries are the poor and not the Oblates themselves.
We do not know the background to this advice and whether there had been an incident in this regard concerning the Oblates. It does, however, touch on a very human need to have transparency and checks and balances when we are handling money and property that is not our own. The intentions of the giver must be scrupulously adhered to, and transparency and accountability are essential.
What shall I tell you about the collection? The matter is quite delicate in my opinion. I have never liked collections, it is rare that they do not entail some inconveniences. One has to go to so much trouble, one loses so much time, and while it can happen that they are not as abundant as the people suppose, they are tempted to think and sometimes say that we are collecting for our convent. I do not tell you however not to take up collections for the poor, if you judge that they are of great utility, but in that case take firm precautions to avoid even the shadow of suspicion that evil minds can cast amongst the people.
Letter to Fathers Mie, Jeancard and Guibert, 21 November 1826, EO VII n. 259
In 2004 we had an example of this when the tsunami ravaged parts of Asia where the Oblates are present. Many NGO groups and others came forward to collect funds to help the survivors, among them the Oblate administration in Rome. It was interesting to note the generosity with which the people contributed to the Oblate fundraising, giving as their reason that they were sure that the donation would reach the most needy and that the full amount given would reach them because the Oblates would not remove administrative fees and were trustworthy.
“I’ve come to learn there is a virtuous cycle to transparency and a very vicious cycle of obfuscation.” Jeff Weiner
Today the focus appears to be on the mundane, the very stuff of every day living. It is neither new, nor particularly exciting or startling. I do very little in the way of fundraising for any one and so it does not seem to apply to me personally and yet I do not want to discard it for it is sound and who knows what this day, indeed the coming days will bring. The checks and balances, the clarity and transparency – there is a need for that in most parts of our lives. What does this look like in my life, today and everyday, the small things and the big things?