The Linacre Quarterly

Volume 32 | Number 4 Article 14

November 1965 The rP iests' Mutual Benefit oS ciety James E. Hoflich

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Recommended Citation Hoflich, James E. (1965) "The rP iests' Mutual Benefit ocS iety," The Linacre Quarterly: Vol. 32 : No. 4 , Article 14. Available at: http://epublications.marquette.edu/lnq/vol32/iss4/14 nationalities and modes of education and support him," and the like. We know there the result might be the entire dissolution of is no diocesan fund for such purpose. the Society. What is chiefly required is to Ask yourself, on what would or could you invest the money safely and to pay regularly rely, if broken down by sickness, or disabli>cl the amounts due to the sick and superan­ by accident; you would have to resign your nuated members; thus there is nothing to present charge. Would you have saved rule. Besides, every member has the right enough to support you for a year or maybe The Priests' Mutual Benefit So< �ty to propose amendments, and it is the duty longer? Would you wish to be an object of charity in some hospital? Most assuredly of the Directors to take such proposals earn­ not. This Society provides a way by which RIGHT REVEREND MSGR. JAMES E. HOFLICH estly into consideration. priests are enabled to render aid-not The purpose of the Society is to raise a fund, charity-to a member when it is necessary. the interest of which should be sufficient The small sum required for membership is within the reach of all. For the first four We are living in an age of change to cover all claims members may be entitled accumulated to take ca of himself. years of membership, $25.00 each year; to. In order to obtain this, the money paid -the changing society-the chang­ In anticipation of this oblem, on after four years only $10.00 annually. No in for the first ten years shall not be used, ing parish. At the beginning of Vati­ January 31, 1870, the < ·cuit Court priest will miss it. but remain on compound interest. But pro­ can II very few of us realized the of the County of St. Juis incor- visions will be made that, in the meantime, In 1895, the Clerical Mutual changes that were about to take porated "The Cieri Mutual members becoming sick will be aided from Benefit Society of St. Louis was suc­ place and in reality have already Benefit Society of St. I is" and on other sources, so that in reality the benefits ceeded by the St. Louis Infirm come to pass. Not only the total so­ February 5, 1870 this ,s certified of the Society may be realized from the · Priests' Fund and by synodal decree, ciety but the individual is involved by the State of Missour 'he officers time of entrance. all "secular priests affiliated with the in this transition. Pope John said, filing this petition wer, he Rever- diocese must cooperate in sustaining «There must be an aggiornamento," ends P. F. Ryan, Chari, ?:igler, and One sees from this communication this Fund." The annual contribution an up-dating. Henry Muehlsiepen. � is showed that membership was entirely volun­ from each associate was $10.00. great foresight because ·1 1884 the tary. In November 1890 the There was a provision made that .Our purpose here is to relate Third Plenary Council · Baltimore following communication was sent. should this Fund become exhausted briefly the up-dating of what is now made a mandate substa iating this. by unusual demands upon he tre s­ known as the Priests' Mutual Bene­ Whilst no priest anticipates having to call : � ury, "the Archbishop will devise fit Society of the Archdiocese of St. In the beginning, th \I' as a vol- on the Society for assistance, no one can tell untary organization ,. ,ereby the how soon we may be so circumstanced,· ·by ways and means to replenish it." Louis. The diocesan priest, at ordi­ sickness or accident, that we would have 10 nation, makes a vow of obedience to priests of the diocese wr invited to depend for support on our relatives or his Ordinary but he does not take enroll in the Society. T' , following friends, or on the charity of strangers, ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND 0 by the a vow of poverty as do the religious quotation is from a lette ,ent neither ot which we would wish to do. Further conditions follow: president of the Soc> . y, Father ·communities. We had a professor in Would the majority of the priests of Lh� Muehlsiepen, in Septem · ,-r 1870: I The administration of the Fund will be the seminary who was a member of diocese become members-much bP1'�r i� the hands of the Archbishop, assisted by . a religious order and his comment on all would-in a few months, as soon as the a Board of five clergymen selected by him . this was, "We take the vow of p:)V­ A word of explanation as to he nature of first annual installment be paid, the amount Of these one shall be treasurer of the Fund, in the treasury would exceed $5,000.00 .. erty but you keep it." Consequently, its organization may be we ·,tl: corporate and another, secretary of the Board. powers are invested in a , ,ard of nine If a priest falls sick, so· he can no longer the diocesan priest who is hospital­ Directors, not that a few m.� rule without 2. At the call of the secretary, the Board ized, incapacitated by sickness or by the consent of all, but in o.. · r to simplify attend to his congregation, another will will meet with the Archbishop towards the have to be appointed in his place. By what end of August each year, to authorize t�e accident and those who have retire:l and give unity to its actions. 1f these Direc­ or whom will the sick one be supported? tors (who have been appoint< l by the Most annual statement, which the Secretary will would have to be dependent entirely Few priests, if any, especially those in the Reverend Archbishop, and ,. ho are after­ send to each associate, and to transact such upon whatever savings he may have country, can put aside anything for the wards to elect their success,,,,) were to be other business as may properly come before future. If a priest meets with an accident, elected by votes of the m('r11bers of the the meeting. Monsignor Hoflich, Moderator of the St. vote on sick-call or otherwise, he may be dis­ Society and the same members were to 3. The accounts of the secretary and treas­ Louis Catholic Physicians' Guild, is cur­ ly to abled for months or for life. What will on By-Laws etc., there would be like urer will be audited each year by the Vicars­ rently president of The Priests' Mutual the varying �aintain him? 'Tis easy to say, "Let the arise much confusion from diocese support him," "The diocese must Ge�eral. Benefit Society. views of persons of so many different NOVEMBER, 1965 331 330 LINACRE QUARTERLY on retire- does not Number of priests DISBURSEMEN I' OF THE FUND that this new arrangen·· mig h) While ill, the parish 28 ht be 1 ment during year the salary of the priest 1. All applications for relief, together with successful, synodal dee obligates cease to pay by the Chancery sick the attending physician's certificate, must each diocesan priest become a 1 unless so ordered Number of priests on 12 be sent to the Archbishop. member of this Society he annual Office. leave during year of pa ­ .?.. In each case, the treasurer will give relief dues are $200.00. I­ of this i) In case of the incapacit� � will Number of priests admitted to ciuring such a length of time as may be amount is paid by the F st himself. tor or assistant, the parish hospitals (in-patient) 96 ,pecified by the Archbishop; and no relief The other half is paid r :he parish, continue to pay honorarium for ' ':· be given without the Archbishop's the institution or the d, :utment month. For en­ .. er. to a period of one Number of priests admitted to members may which the priest has b, 1 assigned. suing months, the hospitals (out-patient) 30 . Until it can be safely increased, $40.00 seek sick leave benefits by apply­ 3hall be the monthly allowance. to BENEFITS ing to The Priests' Mutual Benefit Number of priests admitted 7 4. Relief is not allowed for the first month. Society. homes When relief is granted, it begins at the 1. Priests in Retirement If temporary or permanent dis­ end of the second and consecutive month· a) The Priests' Mu .11 Benefit 3. Number of priests chronically and for that month. ' is sustained by accident in 12 Society shall pay $100.0 ;m month ability ill line of duty and is thereby covered by 5. If applicant receives revenue from his to priests in retiremen at Regina blan­ 7 own charge, or for labor in another, he the Workmen's Compensation Number of priests deceased Cleri or in a parish rec· '°Y· cannot expect an allowance from the Fund. ket insurance policy at present in taken care b) The Priests' Mu. 11 Benefit force in the Archdiocese, no benefits Number of priests 6. In cases of destitution at death, funeral by year 178 expenses may be paid from the Fund. Society shall pay $200.0(' Jer month for said disability shall be paid of during to retired priests not livir at Regina the Society. Number of priests at Regina 7. Delinquents may be denied relief at the Cleri or in a parish recto 16 ,discretion of the Archbishop. 4. All claims for aid shall be made Cleri during year within a reasonable time, in writing, 2. Sickness and Acciden ::::ases Average number of days in The present organization, estab­ directly to the executive secretary. lly Upon application · writing, hospital (not chronica lished in July 1948, is known as The payments shall be made to 11 benefits shall be as folio- , . 5. All ill) Priests' Mutual Benefit Society of the whom due (hospital or physician), of servi es Archdiocese of St. Louis. The consti­ a) Medical and surg: ,I hospital and the individual involved will lie Average number � (not m­ tution adopted at that time was re­ care. notified of the fact of payi:nent aU:d received monthly ·vised in May 1956 and again in cluding retirement and sick b) Private room, mir, ; luxuries, the amount. 1960. The revision was a change in leave benefits) 26 6. All disputed claims shall be dues. The dues to 1954 were $40.00 i. e., television, teleph 1e, etc. adjusted by the Claims Committee. This Society, founded in 1870, has :per year per priest. From 1954 until c) Out-patient care, Lth regular most beneficial for our diocesan 1960 the priest paid $40.00 per year and diagnostic care. As of June 30, 1965 there were been and the parish or institution paid 576 diocesan priests. priests. d) Reasonable hospi, il charges $40.00 per year. Beginning with due to mental disorder. 1960, the priest and parish or insti­ tution paid $100.00 each per year. e) Care in a nursing or rest home. home A further revision was made in f) Private nursing ca1 ·, at uded. 1961 in which The Priests' Mutual or in a hospital, is no! incl Benefit Society broadened its cover­ g) Sick leave benefits are $200.00 age and will henceforth take care of per month. If a pric.,t on sick the diocesan priests in the following leave is being taken care of at an categories: those in retirement, those institution (e.g., St. Joseph Hill incapacitated by sickness and acci­ Infirmary) the sick leave will be dent and those hospitalized. In order $100.00 per month. 333 NOVEMBER, 1965 332 LINACRE QUARTERLY