“This decision confirms Pope Francis’ desire to draw from the expertise and best practices of reputed agencies around the world to continue the curial [central administration] reform now under way,” the Vatican said.

When business consulting pioneer James O. McKinsey formed his firm in 1926, could he have envisioned the Vatican as a client? What would Christ say about his church as a customer of Ernst & Young?

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McKinsey will work on integrating the Vatican’s numerous media outlets, including newspaper, television and radio, so that the organization will be “more functional, efficient and modern.” This consulting work will allow the commission—comprising seven laypeople and one member of the clergy—to make recommendations to Pope Francis on better communications.

Last month, the Holy See chose Ernst & Young to “verify and consult on” the finances of the Vatican City State administration, also known as the Governatorato, which runs revenue-generating activities such as the tourist-packed Vatican museums.

“It is odd to associate the Vatican with major consultancy and auditing firms but if that is what it takes to make it more open and modern [in finances] so be it,” said Marco Giorgino, finance professor at the MIP Polytechnic of Milan.

Very odd, indeed.

As mentioned on this page in The Vatican, Inc. (July 3, 2013), the Catholic Church has focused too much on revenue and not enough on its stated mission of spreading the Gospel of Christ. So much so that it addresses every scandal not as something that should be investigated and re-dressed (see: priest sex abuse) but as a public relations threat to its fundraising capabilities. Thus, it has responded in a manner reminiscent of the Clinton White House by denying at first and then counter-attacking its accusers and those that report it as having bad motivations or, ironically, of being cynical.

If the Vatican, and all organized religion, wants to employ best practices it would do well to clear out its coffers and brokerage accounts of all of its wealth it has accumulated and spend such on the world’s poor who lack the means to support themselves and those who are spiritually bereft. Otherwise, the endless special collections invoking Our Lady of the Perpetual Collection Plate can only be seen as a money-grab to further enrich the church itself and not the truly needy.

-I.M. Windee