An Age of Transparency?

[Mormorrisey]

I read the following article, I admit with some eagerness, given the title. Even though it was Deseret News, I was thinking they might suggest the church needs to be more transparent in its financial doings. Silly, silly me.

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/8656 ... rency.html

At least the comments section brings forward the chief point - if you don't want leaks, why don't you let the members know what is going on? I was talking about this with someone this week, and when I brought up the need for more transparency, I was asked (rather sharply, I thought) why I didn't trust the brethren to do the right thing? I turned this around, and asked, why don't the brethren trust US with this information? If they think building malls, developing subdivisions and constructing luxury apartments is such a great idea, why don't we read about it in the Ensign? Or hear about it in General Conference? Why do they feel us poor slobs in the trenches don't need to know this?

The other thing I thought about as I read this, is the absolute hypocrisy of calling for things like religious freedom, where they need to have a voice in the public sphere, and yet when their workings are dragged into the public sphere, you question the motivations of those doing so? I grant that McKnight is a critic, and has an agenda for MormonLeaks, but doesn't the church have an agenda to keep their information hidden from the world and from its own members? Including the more troublesome parts of its history? A gold medal to the author of this piece for mental gymnastics.

[Not Buying It]

Your response was superb - "why don't the Brethren trust US with this information?" Well done!

[MalcolmVillager]

I just read this and the rediculous TBM responses. The more I think about it, the less the COJCOLDS is what I would want if I could design the perfect, true or even desirable church.

There is no way I would not want financial transparency. To paraphrase a prophet (I think GBH) where things are measure and reported, performance improves. I can't imagine anything different for any organization.

[Mormorrisey]

To paraphrase a prophet (I think GBH) where things are measure and reported, performance improves. I can't imagine anything different for any organization.

That's a great point, and one I hadn't considered. More proof that the church expects one thing from its members, and another for itself.

[Hagoth]

I have a picture in my head of someone trying to wash a window while someone else continues to throw mud on the window, at the same time taking credit for the resulting ephemeral glimpses of transparency.

[deacon blues]

Information produces accountability. Sometimes I think the church thinks it is God. That's why it doesn't have to repent, or be held accountable. Kind of like the popes in the dark ages.

[20/20hind]

They work members over all year to pay, pray, and obey. In my opinion I think they are to nervous to talk about how much money they are bringing in.