Jan. 2, 2022, ET Catholic, A section

January 2

| 2022

VOL 31 NO 5

IN THIS ISSUE CARPENTER REPORT OF THE ASHES B1 SISTER A20 FINANCE A6 OUT Sr. Maria Kolbe, OP, Diocese of Knoxville Catholic Charities to rebuild following arson fire

audited financial statement

adds carpentry to her spiritual tool belt

He dwells among us ......................... A3 Columns ..........................................B2-3 Parish news ....................................... B4 Diocesan calendar ............................ B5 Catholic schools .......................... B7,10 La Cosecha ............................Section C

St. Alphonsus breaks ground on new church Crossville parish’s building project begins after years of planning and fundraising

By Dan McWilliams

“ . . . I laid a foundation, and another is building upon it.”

— 1 Corinthians 3:10

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

S

t. Alphonsus Parish in Crossville took a major step toward its dream of a new church building on Dec. 3 as Bishop Richard F. Stika and parochial administrator Father Mark Schuster officiated at a groundbreaking ceremony.

Parishioners have been patiently waiting and saving money for more than 18 years since their parish life center, which is their current church meeting space, was dedicated in May 2003. Their dream has been going on “for so long to build a worthy church,” Bishop Stika said. “They have a beautiful parish hall, a parish center, but every weekend they have to convert it, move chairs around.

This shows the growth of this community and the diocese, and it’s so special for me to be here.”

Father Schuster came on board as the leader of St. Alphonsus and its 400 families this past summer, succeeding pastor Father Jim Harvey, and immediately became immersed in the building project.

“I think they planned on building this church about 18 years ago.

It’s just been going in different increments,” he said. “When I was told I was assigned to come up here, they said, ‘You’re going to build a church,’ and they were already in process. When I got here, they were well on their way.

“Talking to the contractors, they were saying that they first got a plan back in 2019, but because of

And so it begins Bishop Richard F. Stika looks up as the groundbreaking begins Dec. 3 at St. Alphonsus Church in Crossville. With him (from left) are Justin Diehl, Deacon Peter Minneci, Father Christopher Floersh, Father Mark Schuster, Deacon Sean Smith, Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, Father Michael Woods, Dr. Sabina Coronado Massey, and architect Phil Adams and Josh Stites of J&S Construction.

COVID it really shut things down.

So I have inherited this to see it through to fruition. It’s been quite a learning experience, but the people here who are part of the building committee and the fundraising committee are very driven, they know it inside and out, so just to work with them was very easy actually, but I’m playing a little bit of catchup.”

Also attending the groundbreaking were former St. Alphonsus pastor Father Antony Punnackal, St. Alphonsus continued on page A17

Ready to build Architect Phil Adams of J&S Construction in Cookeville has designed a single-story church for St. Alphonsus, which he says will have “a wonderful worship sanctuary with a nice foyer, enough seating for 300, 350 people.”

Farewell to a gifted priest

Funeral Mass for Diocese of Knoxville pastor and military chaplain Fr. Joe Brando celebrated by Bishop Stika at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul

By Dan McWilliams

O

ne would be hard-pressed to find an area of Church life that Father Joe Brando did not touch.

The priest of 49 years died at age 78 on Dec. 9, and his multifaceted ministry was remembered at a funeral Mass on Dec. 17 at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga, where his life in the presbyterate began with his ordination in 1972. He was buried after the Mass in Mount Olivet Cemetery.

After his nieces, Megan Flynn and Shantih Brando, placed the pall on his casket in the introductory rites at the funeral Mass, a series of people representing the areas of Church life Father Brando influenced laid items on the pall. Mary Williams placed a Council of Catholic Women moderator pin. Roger and Annie Borrello placed a Marriage Encounter stole on the pall.

Baron and Vicki Johnson placed a Cursillo crucifix. Jason McCulley laid down a Knights of Columbus

“He had received many gifts, and he was generous in sharing these with everyone. He truly was a good gift-giver. Above all, he gave .” the gift of faith to so many.”

— Father David Carter, commenting on Father Joe Brando pin. And Alexian Brother Richard Lowe placed Father Brando’s breviary on the pall. Father Brando lived his final days at the Alexian Village in Signal Mountain.

Thousands of readers of The East Tennessee Catholic knew Father Brando from his “Living the Readings” column, a commentary on the Sunday Mass readings, which appeared in the newspaper for more than 22 years. And countless more came to know Father Brando through his service as a U.S. Army chaplain, from which he retired as a lieutenant colonel, in Bosnia, Kosovo, and elsewhere and during Operation Desert Storm in the Middle East.

Bishop Richard F. Stika was the principal celebrant of Father Bran-

do’s funeral Mass. Basilica rector Father David Carter concelebrated and delivered the homily. More than 25 priests from throughout the diocese also concelebrated.

Deacons Gaspar DeGaetano and Joe Hartz of the basilica assisted at Mass. In attendance were a number of Alexian Brothers from the Catholic order’s Generalate Office in Signal Mountain.

“Joseph John Brando, priest of Jesus Christ, entered into heavenly rest on Dec. 9, 2021, after a mercifully short final battle with Alzheimer’s,” Father Carter said in his homily. “He was born on Nov. 1, 1943, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Although he was born in Brooklyn, he considered Tennessee to be his true home.”

Father Joe Brando Father Brando was baptized Dec. 8, 1943, at the Church of Our Lady of Angels in Brooklyn, where he also was confirmed on Oct. 21, 1954. He attended Our Lady of Angels Grammar School and Cathedral Preparatory High School.

He studied for the priesthood at the Cathedral College of the Immaculate Conception in Brooklyn and Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, N.Y. He was ordained for the diaconate on May 25, 1968, in Huntington by Bishop Vincent J. Baldwin. His priestly Fr. Brando continued on page A14

Catholic Charities USA accepting donations for tornado relief String of tornadoes left death, destruction across the South, Midwest, including Tennessee, Kentucky, on Dec. 10

Lending a Hand Who: Catholic Charities USA What: Accepting donations to help victims of devastating Dec. 10 tornadoes When: Donations are being accepted now Where: https:// www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/JON CHERRY, REUTERS

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ant to help victims of the tornadoes that hit six states?

Catholic Charities USA is accepting donations at https://www. catholiccharitiesusa.org. The site has a button to hit to donate for tornado relief.

The tornadoes swept across the South and Midwest Dec. 10. On Dec. 14, authorities said at least 70 people were dead in Kentucky; six died when a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse in Illinois; four were dead in Tennessee; two in Arkansas; and one in Missouri. Mississippi also got hit. Towns were leveled, and tens of thousands of people were without power.

Susan Montalvo-Gesser, director of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Owensboro in Kentucky, said the agency had been in the process of resettling Afghan refugees when the storms hit. She called the group’s leader and asked him to convey to the others that she would have to redirect efforts toward the storm.

“His response floored me,”

By Catholic News Service

Assessing what’s left Residents watch as a woman digs through her belongings in a pile of housing materials in a badly damaged neighborhood in Dawson Springs, Ky., on Dec. 12 after tornadoes ripped through several states, including Tennessee. she said in a post on the Catholic Charities USA site. “He said, ‘Ms. Susan, I led a team for the International Red Cross in Afghanistan and Yemen. I’ve led teams responding to landslides, earthquakes, and floods. Give me a vest

and put me to work. I can help. A lot of us can help.

“That was early Saturday morning (Dec. 11),” Ms. MontalvoGesser said. “I knew then that Emmanuel was present in (his) response. The refugees had been

through ‘hell’ and wanted to assist their new neighbors. Since then, I have received many more messages from Afghans not yet in their own homes who want to assist.”

Bishop Richard F. Stika requested that Diocese of Knoxville parishes hold second collections over two weekends to assist the Diocese of Owensboro following the catastrophic tornadoes.

Bishop Stika spoke with Diocese of Owensboro Bishop William F. Medley concerning the loss of life and property in a number of communities located in his Kentucky diocese.

Tornadoes continued on page A10

How to sign up and qualify for Diocese of Knoxville’s safe-environment program

T Did you know you can receive weekly cartoons and short reflections and news from the Handmaids of the Precious Blood? Visit their website, nuns for priests.org, and sign up for the FIAT newsletter. You also can learn about praying for priests and adopting them.

January Prayer Intentions “We pray for all those suffering from religious discrimination and persecution; may their own rights and dignity be recognized, which originate from being brothers and sisters in the human family.”

–– Pope Francis

”Dear Lord, we pray for a safe and joyful new year. As we mark another dark anniversary of the dreadful legal decision that has claimed the lives of millions of unborn babies since 1973, we pray for the forgiveness of this sin and an end to abortion everywhere, especially here in the United States. Amen.”

–– Bishop Stika

DIOCESE PROCEDURE

FOR

OF

KNOXVILLE

REPORTING

SEXUAL

ABUSE

Anyone who has actual knowledge of or who has reasonable cause to suspect an incident of sexual abuse should report such information to the appropriate civil authorities first, then to the bishop's office 865.584.3307, or the diocesan victims' assistance coordinator, Marla Lenihan, 865.482.1388.

he Diocese of Knoxville has implemented the CMG Connect platform to administer the Safe Environment Program, which replaces the former Safe Environment Program (VIRTUS “Protecting God’s Children”).

CMG Connect is a web-based platform that will assist in ensuring that all employees and volunteers who are in a position of trust with children and vulnerable adults within Diocese of Knoxville schools and parishes are trained to recognize behavior patterns of potential abusers and provide pro-active measures for preventing abuse in any context.

“Safe Haven-It’s Up to You” is a three-part video that provides vignettes of real-life situations to educate the viewer about methods of grooming, desensitization, bullying, and neglect, all of which can lead to abuse.

Each part of the video is immediately followed by a brief questionnaire to further develop understanding.

Education is a key

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element of the Safe Environment Program.

All clergy, employees, contracted school personnel, volunteers, members of groups and organizations over the age of 18 who work, volunteer, or participate in any capacity are required to complete the diocesan Safe Environment training and a criminal-background check before they can begin employment, volunteer, or participate with ministries, groups, and organizations affiliated with the Diocese of Knoxville.

In addition, the mandatory renewal training must be completed every five years and a new background check submitted before the five-year expiration of prior training.

The Diocese of Knoxville Safe Environment compliance training and renewal training is a condition of employment and for volunteer ministry in the Diocese of Knoxville.

The CMG Connect

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dioceseknoxville

A DVERTISE IN THE EAST TENNESSEE C AT H O L I C

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platform contains all three elements of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program: n Annual review of the Diocese of Knoxville’s Policy and Procedures Relating to Sexual Misconduct; n CMG Connect Safe Haven training program to be completed every five years; n Criminal background check to be completed every five years.

In compliance with the Diocese of Knoxville’s Safe Environment Program, all affiliates require that volunteers and employees complete the requirements prior to working and/or volunteering in a parish, school, The Paraclete, or through Catholic Charities and/or St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic.

Go to https:// dioknox.org/safeenvironment on the Diocese of Knoxville website for more information. ■

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> CONTACT US AT 865.584.3307 OR bbrewer @ dioknox.org.

> FIND US AT dioknox.org.

NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE PUBLISHER

EDITOR

Bishop Richard F. Stika Bill Brewer COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR

bbrewer@dioknox.org ASSISTANT EDITOR

Jim Wogan Dan McWilliams

jwogan@dioknox.org THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC (USPS 007211) is published bi-monthly by The Diocese of Knoxville, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551. Periodicals-class postage paid at Knoxville, TN. Printed by the Knoxville News Sentinel. THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC is mailed to all registered Catholic families in East Tennessee.

Subscription rate for others is $15 per year in the United States. Make checks payable to The Diocese of Knoxville.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC, 805 S. Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919-7551.

A2 n JANUARY 2, 2022

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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

He dwells among us

by Bishop Richard F. Stika

The best part of waking up We should begin our day, as we should in all things, ‘in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’ “Show me the sign of your favor, that my foes may see to their shame that you , O Lord, give me comfort and help.”

— Psalm 86:17

B

eginning your day. Of the many practical suggestions to encourage Catholics to begin their morning with prayer, the best might be that of Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen, who counsels, “Let them [first] have coffee.”

But what those first sips of coffee do to help awaken the energies of our mind and body, the first short prayers of our early morning do to help awaken and inflame the desires of our heart and soul to be united with God in all we do throughout our day’s journey.

Morning’s importance. The saying, “You own the morning,” recognizes the practical advantages of the first hour of our day before the time that lies beyond it becomes more subject to the circumstances and dictates of life and work. But the spiritual value of this time immediately after rising from sleep is particularly important as the Servant of God Romano Guardini (1885-1968) stresses:

Mysteriously, each morning we are born again…. It is plain how much depends on this first hour. It is the day’s beginning. The day may start without a beginning. The day may be slipped into without thought or intention.

But such a day, without purpose or character, hardly deserves the name…. A day is a journey.

One must decide which way one is going…. The morning hour should have its own distinct character (“Sacred Signs”).

A simple and easy prayer. While it may take a little bit to shake off the heaviness of sleep upon awakening, there is an easy and simple, yet incredibly powerful way to begin our day—by making the sign of the cross as you pray, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.” No other prayer and gesture are as basic and yet essential for sanctifying our day and activities. No other prayer is as important to make throughout the day. Sadly, though, no other prayer is perhaps as undervalued and carelessly offered.

Sacrament and sacramentals. The sign of the cross is what the Church refers to as a sacramental. Christ gave us the sacraments, and the Church gives us sacramentals. Whereas sacraments confer the grace attached to each specifically, sacramentals do not do so, but instead help to prepare us, according to our disposition, to receive grace and to be docile to the workings of the Holy Spirit. With “pious disposition,” sacramentals help to inflame our love of God and to open our hearts to Him, cause the remission of venial sins, and help to repulse Satan’s attacks.

They not only benefit health of soul, but even of body. Holy water is another powerful sacramental that, whenever possible, should be used when making the sign of the cross. We should keep it by our bedside, in our car, at work, and used frequently. A highly recommended prayer when blessing our self with it is, “By this holy water and Thy Precious Blood, wash me of my sins O Lord.”

The power of the cross. So why is the prayer and the act of tracing the cross upon our body so powerful? Two reasons: first, because it recalls and renews our baptism; and second, because Satan despises the cross.

Baptismal dignity. Our baptism comes from the cross, through Christ’s sacrifice by which we are saved. And the 15 words that make up the Sign of the Cross prayer are the very words that immediately follow, “I baptize you…,” in the sacrament of our rebirth and supernatural life in the Most Holy Trinity. They are the baptismal creed that we must live—to bless and to be a blessing in all we do, according to our vocation in life. We do so, as members of Christ’s Mystical Body, by exercising our share in Christ’s office as priest, prophet, and king. Great is our dignity, then, as St. Leo the Great expresses:

The sign of the cross makes kings of all those reborn in Christ, and the anointing of the Holy Spirit consecrates them as priests, so that, apart from the particular service of our ministry, all spiritual and rational Christians are recognized as members of this royal race and sharers in Christ’s priestly office. What, indeed, is as royal for a soul as to govern the body in obedience to God? And what is as priestly as to dedicate a pure conscience to the Lord and to offer the spotless offerings of devotion on the altar of the heart?

Why Satan hates this prayer. It was in the blindness of his pride that Satan defiantly declared his disobedience, “I will not serve.” But when we make the Sign of the Cross prayer, we are saying to God, “I want to serve,” and to do everything under the banner of Christ’s cross.

When we do so with reverence and faith, according to St. John Vianney, it “makes all hell tremble,” for we open our heart up to God and to the blessings and the power of the cross that Christ shed His Blood upon for our salvation.

Because the cross is Christ’s victory over sin and death and Satan’s great defeat, it is our greatest weapon and armor of defense against the “wickedness and snares” of the devil. Should you have any doubts, remember these words of St. John Chrysostom: “Are you ignorant of what the cross has done?

It has vanquished death, destroyed sin, emptied hell, dethroned Satan, and restored the universe.

Would you then doubt its power?”

Consecrating our day and activities. Such is the significance and power of this prayer that it should never be made casually or hastily as if we are swatting away an annoying fly. We must remember that the sign of the cross is the sign of our salvation and testament of our discipleship.

It is a most unique and special prayer; it is the foundation and capstone of every other prayer we make, including the holy sacrifice of the Mass.

It is the prayer we should begin all things with, and the end to which all our actions should be directed. We would do well, then, to heed the caution of Pope St. Leo IV: “Take care to make this sign rightly, because otherwise you bless nothing.”

Little communions. We should endeavor to make the Sign of the Cross prayer throughout

our day in order to do with God what we cannot do by ourselves. In the short five seconds or so that we pause to make this great sign of our faith, we open our heart up to spiritual communion.

Christ is always longing for us to invite Him into our heart, to be in communion with Him spiritually, no matter how briefly. And as we develop the habit of making this prayer over the course of our day, these many little moments of spiritual communion will yield greater and greater fruits and inspire us to greater acts of love and piety.

Gloria Patri. Similar to the Sign of the Cross is the prayer, “Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.” It is called a “doxology,” meaning “a word of glory or praise.” And just as the Sign of the Cross is like a “little Creed,” so the Glory Be is a “little doxology” that inflames our heart’s desire to give “Glory to God in the highest” and do all things “Through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ…,” as a way of living our Mass throughout our day.

Suffering and the cross. During His crucifixion, Jesus heard the words of those who yelled, “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!” (Matthew 27:40). And these are the words Satan hurls at us in our trials and sufferings—flee the cross, leave it behind! But, as St. John Paul II reminds us, “Every suffering, given fresh life by the power of the cross, should become no longer the weakness of man but the power of God” (The Christian Meaning of Human Suffering, 26).

So, if Christ commands us to “pick up our cross” and to follow Him (Matthew 16:24), it is because of the redemptive value He gives our sufferings as a share in His cross, as a way to offer our sacrifice as a blessing for others. Suffering can make praying difficult, if not almost impossible, but even the desire within our heart to make the Sign of the Cross prayer is enough to unite our cross with Christ’s and make it fruitful in Him. Highly recommended book. Bert Ghezzi, in his outstanding book, The Sign of the Cross—Recovering the Power of the Ancient Prayer, offers a short and beautiful reflection upon this basic sign of our faith and offers us six beautiful reflections upon its meaning for us. I cannot more highly recommend to the laity and clergy alike this short and easy-to-read book. In it, he reflects upon six meanings of the Sign of the Cross as a: 1) confession of faith; 2) renewal of our baptism; 3) mark of discipleship; 4) help in accepting suffering; 5) defense (and offense) against the devil and temptations; and 6) help in fighting sin and vice and acquiring virtue in their place. This book, like the Sign of the Cross, is so easy and simple, but filled with so many rich treasures.

The great sign of God’s favor. While there are other prayers and devotions to be recommended for beginning our day, first among them being the Morning Offering (the subject of a future column), all must begin, as should everything we do, with the Sign of the Cross prayer. When done so with care and reverence, we make present in that moment, “the sign of [God’s] favor,” which makes “our foes… see to their shame that [God gives us] comfort and help” (Psalm 86:17). ■

New name, same important mission 2022 Bishop’s Appeal, which assists vital ministries, begins with faith in the continued generosity of parishioners

By Jim Wogan

D

eacon Hicks Armor has mixed feelings about the annual Bishop’s Appeal. The yearly undertaking to raise vital funds for diocesan ministries set another record for giving in 2021 and may reach $3 million for the first time in diocesan history.

Following a year in which COVID suspended Masses and turned the world, and not just the Church, on its heels, Deacon Armor is ecstatic and grateful.

“Definitely so, and Bishop Stika is, too,” Deacon Armor said. “At the same time, I am concerned that by showing our gratitude and expressing our deep thanks to those who continued to contribute, I want to make sure that we don’t become complacent. We have a long way to go before we can fully fund all that we do. The Bishop’s Appeal is the single most important effort we make to raise needed funds for our ministries, but it doesn’t cover the entire cost of our outreach.”

Coming off a successful 2021 effort, the Bishop’s Appeal for 2022 will begin with parish announcements in late January. Commitment weekend is Feb. 5-6.

Deacon Armor is hopeful that the 2022 appeal will

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be as successful as in recent years—albeit with a revision to the name.

In 2022, it has become the Bishop’s Appeal for Ministries.

“The new name really emphasizes to the faithful that the Bishop’s Appeal specifically funds our ministries,” Deacon Armor said. “It is their lifeblood, and it is necessary for their survival. Without the appeal, Bishop Stika and the diocese would not have the necessary financial resources to continue our outreach through programs like Catholic Charities, Catholic faith formation, and clergy and seminarian formation, just to name a few. The ministries are the heart and soul of what we do.”

The continued growth of the appeal has been dramatic and impactful.

In 2010, the appeal raised just over $900,000. It has w ww.di o k no x .o rg

set contribution records in nine of the past 11 years.

“The strength of the appeal should not be on meeting a number,” Deacon Armor said. “The strength of the appeal should be the purpose of what the number will allow us to do. We always focus on how we can best serve Catholics and others in East Tennessee who are less fortunate. Jesus never asked somebody for money. He came to help people and to save souls.

If we focus on money, I think we’ve missed the mark.

It takes money to fund ministries, but if we focus on what we’re supposed to be doing, which is serving God’s people, He will help us reach the number.

That’s why I think ministries and participation are the key to the whole thing.”

In 2021, the Bishop’s Appeal provided $578,000 to Christian formation programs in the diocese. The funds helped support religious education in parishes for youth and adults, and RCIA formation for those coming to the Catholic Church for the first time, among other efforts. Catholic Charities of East Tennessee and clergy and seminarian formation each received $500,000 last year. Youth, young adult, and college campus ministries were allocated $465,000. The diocesan justice and peace ministry received $72,000, and the St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic was given $50,000.

“The faithful in our diocese have always been genAppeal continued on page A15 JANUARY 2, 2022 n A3

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TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Supreme Court hears arguments in key Mississippi abortion case Justices expected to rule on constitutionality of state’s abortion ban in 2022; impact on Roe v. Wade to be determined

By Shannon Mullen Catholic News Agency

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/EVELYN HOCKSTEIN, REUTERS

T

Students for life A pro-life supporter takes part in a demonstration outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 1 as the court heard arguments over a challenge to a Texas law that bans abortion after six weeks. On Dec. 10, the Supreme Court said clinics’ legal challenge to the law can continue but in the meantime the law would remain in effect. In a separate action, a judge on a Texas district court ruled Dec. 9 the new law violates the state’s constitution. regulate pre-viability abortions, they could not enforce an “undue burden.” The Casey court defined that term to mean “a substantial obstacle in the path of a woman seeking an abortion of a nonviable fetus.”

Mr. Stewart said the two cases have “kept this court at the center of a political battle that it can never resolve.”

“Nowhere else does this court recognize a right to end a human life,” he said.

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/TYLER ORSBURN

he U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the constitutionality of Mississippi’s 15-week state abortion ban on Dec. 1, a high-stakes test of the settledness of legalized abortion in a deeply unsettled nation still sharply divided over the right to life.

The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is viewed by many Catholic leaders and pro-life groups as the best chance yet to overturn the court’s landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, which has barred restrictive early-term abortion laws like Mississippi’s for the past 48 years.

Over that time, some 62 million abortions have taken place in the United States, statistics show, a grim toll the Catholic Church sees as both a grave evil and a catastrophic political failure.

Conversely, a decision that strikes down Mississippi’s 2018 law, called the Gestational Age Act, which prohibits abortions after the 15th week of gestation, would represent a devastating setback for the pro-life movement. For many years it has pinned its hopes of overturning Roe on the goal of securing a supermajority of conservative justices on the nation’s highest court, as is the case now.

With thousands of people keeping a vocal but peaceful vigil outside the Supreme Court on a bright, brisk morning in Washington, D.C., the nine justices took up the intensely anticipated case in a proceeding that lasted nearly two hours.

Among the demonstrators were four women shown in a viral video posted online swallowing pills behind a large sign that reads, “WE ARE TAKING ABORTION PILLS FOREVER,” a reference to the prescription drugs mifepristone and misoprostol that when used in combination will induce a miscarriage.

Mississippi is asking the court to do more than simply uphold the state’s abortion law; it wants the court to overturn both Roe and a later ruling that affirmed it nearly 20 years later, the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

Both Roe and Casey “have no

A question of ‘settled’ law Signs of the times Groups meet in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1, the day justices heard oral arguments in a case about a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. basis in the Constitution,” Scott G. Stewart, the state’s solicitor general, said in his opening argument.

“They have no home in our history or traditions. They’ve damaged the democratic process. They poison the law. They’ve choked off

compromise for 50 years,” he said.

In Roe, the court ruled that states could not ban abortion before viability, which the court determined to be 24 to 28 weeks into pregnancy.

Casey, viewed as the “Dobbs” of its day, found that while states could

Legal scholars see the court’s reluctance to overturn past rulings, even highly controversial ones, as Mississippi’s greatest hurdle in Dobbs.

As anticipated, that legal principle, known as stare decisis, loomed large on Dec. 1, dominating the litigants’ oral arguments and the justices’ questions. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, the newest addition to the court’s 6-3 conservative majority, Supreme Court continued on page A11

By Katie Yoder Catholic News Agency

A

nna Del Duca and her daughter, Frances, woke up at 5 a.m. on Dec. 1 to brave the 30-degree weather outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. They arrived hours before oral arguments began in the highly-anticipated abortion case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The case, which involves a Mississippi law restricting most abortions after 15 weeks, challenges two landmark decisions: Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide, and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which upheld Roe in 1992.

“We’re looking forward to the end of Roe v. Wade in our country,” Anna, who drove from Pittsburgh late Nov. 30, said. In her hands, she held a sign reading, “I regret my abortion.”

“I would like to use my testimony to be a blessing to others,” she said, so that “others will choose life or those who have regretted abortion or had an abortion would turn to Jesus.”

Anna remembered having an abortion when she was just 19.

Today, she and her daughter run a group called Restorers of Streets to Dwell In Pittsburgh that offers help to women seeking healing after abortion.

Anna and Frances were among thousands of Americans who rallied outside the Supreme Court before, during, and after the oral

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arguments. To accommodate them, law enforcement closed the street in front of the court. Capitol police also placed fencing in the space in front of the building in an attempt to physically separate rallies held by abortion supporters and pro-lifers.

At 21 weeks pregnant, pro-life speaker Alison Centofante emceed the pro-life rally, called, “Empower Women Promote Life.” The event featured a slew of pro-life women of diverse backgrounds and numerous politicians.

“It’s funny, there were so many diverse speakers today that the only unifying thread was that we want to protect preborn children,” Ms. Centofante said. They included Democrats, Republicans, Christians, Catholics, agnostics, atheists, women who chose life, and women who regretted their abortions, she noted.

She recognized women there, including Aimee Murphy, as people who are not the typical “cookie cutter pro-lifer.”

Ms. Murphy, 32, founder of prolife group Rehumanize International, arrived at the Supreme Court around 6:30 a.m. on Dec. 1. She also drove from Pittsburgh the night before. Her sign read, “Queer Latina feminist rape survivor against abortion.”

“At Rehumanize International, we oppose all forms of aggressive violence,” Ms. Murphy said. “Even as a secular and non-partisan organization, we understand that abortion is the most urgent cause that we must stand against in our mod-

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/TYLER ORSBURN

Groups hold rallies outside of the U.S. Supreme Court during hearing

Another viewpoint Supporters of legal abortion are seen near the U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 1, the day justices heard oral arguments in a case about a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of gestation.. ern day and age because it takes on average over 800,000 lives a year.”

She also had a personal reason for attending.

“When I was 16 years old, I was raped, and my rapist then threatened to kill me if I didn’t have an abortion,” she revealed.

“It was when he threatened me that I felt finally a solidarity with unborn children, and I understood then that, yeah, the science told me that a life begins at conception, but that I couldn’t be like my abusive ex and pass on the violence and oppression of abortion to another human being — that all that I would be doing in having an abortion would be telling my child, ‘You are an inconvenience to me and to my future, therefore I’m going to kill you,’ which is exactly the same thing that my rapist was telling me when he threatened to kill me.”

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On the other side of the police fence, the Center for Reproductive Rights and the National Abortion Access Coalition and NARAL ProChoice America participated in another rally. Yellow balloons printed with the words “BANS OFF OUR BODIES” escaped into the sky. Several pro-choice demonstrators declined to speak with Catholic News Agency.

Voices clashed in the air as people, the majority of whom were women, spoke into their respective microphones at both rallies. Abortion supporters stressed bodily autonomy, while pro-lifers recognized the humanity of the unborn child.

Chants arose from both sides at different points, from “Whose choice?

My choice!” to “Hey hey, ho ho, Roe v. Wade has got to go!”

At 10 a.m. on Dec. 1, the pro-life Rallies continued on page A11 JANUARY 2, 2022 n A5

Catholic Charities plans to rebuild after arson fire Knoxville diocesan agency to serve its East Tennessee clients from temporary site

Bishop finds inspiration in rubble after blaze at Catholic Charities of ET

By Bill Brewer

By Dennis Sadowski Catholic News Service

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CCETN continued on page A13

F JIM WOGAN (3)

he Diocese of Knoxville and its Catholic Charities of East Tennessee are determined to rebuild after an arsonist burglarized Catholic Charities’ administrative offices in North Knoxville on Nov. 28 and set the building on fire, doing severe damage to the one-level structure.

Catholic Charities executive director Lisa Healy said the building is a total loss, and the agency is having to move its administrative offices. While restoration work takes place on the offices at 119 Dameron Ave., which Catholic Charities has occupied since the 1980s, the diocesan social services agency’s Knoxville Pregnancy Help Center, Columbus Home Assisting Parents office, Hope Kitchen supplies, and all administrative functions will operate from temporary offices.

The Pregnancy Help Center provides classroom training and material assistance to young families in need.

“The fire was unfortunate for our administrative team, but it will have no negative impact on what we’re doing in the field,” Mrs. Healy said.

“We can manage this move to a different building. We have a few programs, like our Knoxville Pregnancy Help Center, which will need to move with us, but just about all of our other clients are served at other locations, and none of our services or clients will be impacted by this.”

“We remain committed to serving our clients and community with minimal disruptions,” Mrs. Healy added. “We are incredibly thankful that no one was onsite (during the fire) and there were no injuries to the emergency personnel on the scene.

Despite this setback, all services and programs are operational. We remain committed to serving our clients with minimal disruptions, and we are incredibly humbled and grateful for the support that enables us to do so.”

In the days following the fire, Bishop Richard F. Stika made a visit to the building site to meet with Catholic Charities employees and survey the damage. Along with words of comfort and healing, he emphasized his support for efforts to rebuild CCETN’s administrative building, which Mrs. Healy said “will only make our programs and services stronger.”

“The damage is significant. This is not just a building; it’s a symbol of hope,” Bishop Stika said. “It’s the social outreach of the diocese, and it provides care and hope for people.

Our clients are people that are in need, and it’s just so sad to see the

Holding out hope Bishop Richard F. Stika, clutching a small statue of the Blessed Mother found inside the burned-out Catholic Charities of East Tennessee offices on Dameron Avenue in Knoxville, uses a flashlight to assess the fire’s damage on Dec. 1. Lisa Healy, executive director of Catholic Charities, is with Bishop Stika, who also found a small wooden crucifix on a wall with a rosary draped over it. Investigators have determined the Nov. 28 fire was arson. Catholic Charities will operate from temporary offices until the administrative offices can be rebuilt.

Supporting the mission Bishop Richard F. Stika, center, meets with Catholic Charities of East Tennessee staff on Dec. 1 outside of their burned-out offices in Knoxville. Despite a fire, now ruled as arson, that severely damaged the building, rendering it a total loss, the Diocese of Knoxville social services agency is continuing operations from temporary offices, according to executive director Lisa Healy, left center.

Investigating the damage Fire investigators get a close-up look at the damage to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee’s offices at 119 Dameron Ave. in Knoxville. Investigators have determined that the fire, which left the building a total loss, was arson.

lashlight in hand, Bishop Richard F. Stika was walking through the fire-damaged administrative offices of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee when he came across a small wooden crucifix hanging on a wall with a rosary draped over it.

Bishop Stika was inspired to see that, amid the rubble throughout the one-story building, the iconic items remained untouched.

“It didn’t have any soot on it,” Bishop Stika said after his hourlong tour on Dec. 1 to view the damage caused by a Nov. 28 nighttime blaze that fire department investigators determined to be arson.

“I took the rosary. I have it with me now,” he said.

Bishop Stika said he plans to frame the crucifix and the rosary so it can be displayed in the building once the fire damage is repaired and employees return months from now.

Police discovered the fire while responding to an alarm at the building at about 10:30 p.m. They found a broken window and smoke pouring from the building that is located north of downtown Knoxville.

Firefighters on the scene found a gasoline can and a matchbook near the window the perpetrator broke to gain entry, Bishop Stika said.

Fire gutted much of the building’s interior, and smoke and water damage was prevalent throughout areas untouched by flames, according to the bishop.

The building’s interior is a total loss, but the structure remained intact, he added. The value of the damage is undetermined.

“It makes you sick to your stomach,” Bishop Stika said.

In addition to administrative offices, some services were offered at the facility, located in a neighborhood that has seen some revitalization in recent years. The building housed the Knoxville Pregnancy Help Center, operated by Catholic Charities, and a shop where women could buy reduced-price items for infants.

About 10 full-time employees worked in the building alongside dozens of volunteers who serve some 100 clients.

Catholic Charities staffers and volunteers were onsite when the bishop arrived, greeting him and telling him how they are continuing their programs.

“That was my major objective,” Fire continued on page A13

March for Life 2022 Sunday, January 23 at 2 pm Knoxville Convention Center

Don’t miss this opportunity to stand for LIFE.

A6 n JANUARY 2, 2022

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‘By God’s grace’ Ordinariate Mass brings into full communion those people who are in other ecclesial communities

By Dan McWilliams

DAN MCWILLIAMS (2)

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n Ordinariate Mass held at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville was the first of its kind celebrated in East Tennessee: a liturgy in English that also featured the incense, solemnity, and ad orientem worship usually associated with the extraordinary form.

Father Rick Kramer, moderator of the curia and director of vocations and clergy formation for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, was the principal celebrant and homilist for the Oct. 24 Mass. The ordinariate, which is equivalent to a diocese, was established by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in 2012 for people nurtured in the Anglican tradition who were becoming Catholic. Parishes and communities in the ordinariate are fully Roman Catholic while retaining elements of the English/ Anglican patrimony in their liturgy, hospitality, and ministries. The Chair of St. Peter has more than 40 Roman Catholic parishes and communities across the United States and Canada.

Concelebrating the Mass at Holy Ghost were host pastor Father Bill McNeeley and associate pastor Father Michael Hendershott. Father McNeeley, a former Episcopal priest, came into the Catholic Church through the Pastoral Provision established

by Pope St. John Paul II; he was ordained for the Diocese of Knoxville in 2007.

“I’m grateful to Father McNeeley and the good people of Holy Ghost to be able to provide this,” said Bishop Richard F. Stika. “If it uplifts people in a spiritual sense, it’s a good thing.”

Father Kramer introduced himself at the start of his homily.

“We are a diocese that was created by Pope Benedict XVI to foster the full visible, corporate communion between Anglicans and Protestants with the full communion of the Catholic Church,” he said. “It is a great joy for me to be here today.

My office is in Houston, Texas. I am so happy to be able to celebrate this Ordinariate Mass, or this Mass according to Divine Worship, our missal, with all of you. Father McNeeley, I especially thank you for the invitation to come here to Knoxville this evening.”

Speaking after Mass, Father Kramer said he journeyed from the Episcopal priesthood to the Catholic Church “by God’s grace.”

“It is a bit of a long story. I converted in 2005 together with my family. We all came in together,” he said. “In 2009, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, promulgated an apostolic constitution, Anglicanorum coetibus, which made it possible for those of us who were journeying into the fullness of communion with the Church to retain some of the customs and traditions that truly belonged to the Catholic Church but flourished within Anglicanism. So we got to bring those, and you see that expressed in this Mass.”

The Ordinariate Mass resembled an extraordinary-form Mass, or Latin Mass, in that the priests and the assembly both faced the same direction, liturgical east, when addressing the Lord.

“It’s identifiably Catholic. It’s identifiably a Mass,” Father Kramer said.

Several parts of the Mass were Anglican in origin.

“There are a couple of pieces you heard this evening. The prayer at the very beginning is called the Collect for Purity—that’s a little bit different than is found in the Roman Missal,” Father Kramer said.

“Then we also have within the Mass itself our version of the Confiteor, the penitential rite. We also heard the Prayer of Humble Access, and then that prayer of thanksgiving after Mass, right before the post-Communion prayer—those are some of the big components that are brought in.”

The main purpose of the ordinariate was “to bring into full communion those people who are in other ecclesial communities . . . and make a way for us to share the treasures that we received that made us think about the Catholic Church,” Father Kramer said.

Spiritually uplifting Father Rick Kramer, moderator of the curia and director of vocations and clergy formation for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, center, celebrates an Ordinariate Mass at Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville on Oct. 24, with Father Michael Hendershott, Holy Ghost associate pastor, left, and Father Bill McNeeley, Holy Ghost pastor, concelebrating.

Regarding those weighing the option to convert to Catholicism, Father Kramer said, “My response to that is, when you know the truth, you have to make a decision.”

Father McNeeley said Holy Ghost was “just trying to create a welcoming environment for Protestants, homeless former Anglicans, Methodists— people who are looking to come to the Catholic Church. As it was with me, a lot of people feel that their church has left In communion with the Church Father Bill McNeeley, pastor of Holy them. It’s like I was in Ghost Parish and a former Episcopal priest, gives Communion to a Caththe year 2000—I could olic who was attending the Ordinariate Mass at Holy Ghost on Oct. 24. no longer recognize the Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI established the ordinariate in 2012. church I was raised in.

This is just kind of setting out a welcome mat for people looking for a church mission a little bit from just Anglicans to incorpohome and makes it a little easier because it’s ofrate those who were formed in any ecclesial comtentimes a liturgy that they’re a little more familiar munity outside of the Church. That could include with.”

Baptists. That could include Presbyterians or Lu Father Hendershott called the Ordinariate Mass therans or people from other Protestant denomina“a beautiful liturgy of a vision of our Pope Emeritus tions who are seeking to come into the fullness of Benedict for reconciliation with those who have the Church. This is a beautiful moment in the life of been estranged from the one holy Catholic and apthe Church to be able to raise up awareness of the ostolic Roman Church, to find unity. It seems also Church’s beautiful teaching. I’m saying ‘beautiful’ a bit of an opportunity for Roman Rite Catholics to often right now, because if you’re like me, traveling see a Mass that looks a little bit like the Mass that into the Church, you truly discover the beauty of all was before the Second Vatican Council.” that the Church holds in her teaching and how lov In a question-and-answer session downstairs ing it is to finally receive clarity in this word of truth in Holy Ghost’s Henkel Hall after Mass, Father that we’re given.

Kramer talked of Pope Benedict’s establishment of “In a world that is confused, in a world that is in three ordinariates: in the United States, England, darkness where so many are losing their way, what and Australia. a great opportunity we have right now to be work “He established the ordinariates as a really ining for Christian unity in the Church, for it’s by our credibly generous response that only the Church unity that the message of the Gospel is made credcan give to people like myself who were former ible and believable. And others will see it, and we Episcopalians but were asking to come into the fullpray God will follow our example in the way that ness of the Catholic Church, who were so moved we have led.” in our own lives to consider the Catholic Church Leaving familiar church settings for another trabecause of the prayers we had prayed and the life dition can be a cross to bear, Father Kramer noted. of spirituality that we had developed as Anglicans,” “The way of discipleship always entails the Father Kramer said. cross, and so it’s not easy, but with God’s grace, “Pope Francis has in a sense, through the complewith His love, He who carried the cross for all of us Ordinariate continued on page A12 mentary norms that we have, sort of expanded our

Vatican answers questions on limits regarding pre-Vatican II Mass

By Catholic News Service and Catholic News Agency

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CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/PAUL HARING

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esponding to 11 questions it said had been raised about Pope Francis’ document restricting celebrations of the pre-Vatican II Mass, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Sacraments offered a few concessions to bishops but insisted the entire Latin-rite Catholic Church must move toward celebrating only one form of the Mass and sacraments.

“It is sad to see how the deepest bond of unity, the sharing in the one bread broken, which is his body offered so that all may be one, becomes a cause for division,” wrote Archbishop Arthur Roche, prefect of the congregation, in a document published Dec. 18.

In a formal responsa ad dubia — response to questions — Archbishop Roche said, “It is the duty of the bishops, cum Petro et sub Petro (with and under Peter, the pope), to safe-

Next question Pope Francis answers questions from journalists aboard his flight from Athens, Greece, to Rome on Dec. 6. The pope was concluding a five-day visit to Cyprus and Greece. guard communion, which, as the apostle Paul reminds us, is a necessary condition for being able to participate at the eucharistic table.”

Writing to the presidents of bishops’ conferences, the archbishop said, “As pastors, we must not lend ourselves to sterile polem-

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ics, capable only of creating division, in which the ritual itself is often exploited by ideological viewpoints.”

In July, Pope Francis promulgated his apostolic letter Traditionis Custodes (Guardians of the Tradition), declaring the liturgical books promulgated after the Second Vatican Council to be “the unique expression of the lex orandi (law of worship) of the Roman Rite,” restoring the obligation of priests to have their bishops’ permission to celebrate according to the “extraordinary” or pre-Vatican II Mass and ordering bishops not to establish any new groups or parishes in their dioceses devoted to the old liturgy.

The document overturned or severely restricted the permissions St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI had given to celebrate the so-called Tridentine-rite Mass as an outreach to followers of the late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre and to minister to Mass continued on page A19 JANUARY 2, 2022 n A7

LEFT PAGE

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Cross Catholic Outreach Arranges Major Food Shipments to Combat Global Hunger In much of the developing world, a food crisis is underway, and Catholic missions have had to step forward to serve those in greatest need. [See story on opposite page.]

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“Catholic leaders are eager to help the poor in their communities, but they need this resource to succeed.”

James Cavnar Cross Catholic Outreach rice, beans and other resources used in the outreach can be resupplied on a regular basis.

Organizing this ongoing support in the U.S. is a priority for the charity Cross Catholic Outreach.

“Our goal is to empower the priests, nuns and Catholic lay leaders who are fighting the war against malnutrition, and we are involving thousands of Catholic donors in the United States to provide that support,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, the Vaticanrecognized charity serving missionaries in the developing world. “In this case, American Catholics are helping by funding the shipping and distribution of Vitafood.”

Vitafood is a fortified rice product, specifically designed to reverse the effects of child malnutrition, and it can be easily packed in large shipping containers and cost-effectively sent to Catholic schools, orphanages and other local partners serving the poorest of the poor. A single container can make a big impact, keeping crucial feeding programs running or providing immediate relief when disasters strike.

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feeding programs, I’m confident we could do even more with additional support from donors in the U.S.,” Cavnar said. “Catholic leaders in these countries are eager to help the poor in their communities, but they need this resource to succeed. Our steady supplies of food are critical to them, and in some cases, these meals save lives.”

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meals are donated to Cross Catholic Outreach, the ministry only needs to cover the cost for shipping the meals overseas. This means that for every dollar donated, about six nutritious meals can be sent to a community in need!

“There are very few donations a person can make that achieve this much bang for the buck,” Cavnar pointed out. “Some of our donors are so impressed with the impact of this program that they want to sponsor major shipments of food, supplying the poor with thousands of meals.”

In recent months, the COVID-19 pandemic has made this outreach even more important to the poor, according to Cavnar.

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the people,” he said. “As I see it, this is our opportunity to be a blessed instrument of mercy. It is our chance to further the work of the dedicated priests, nuns and Catholic lay missionaries who are doing everything they can to respond to this threat.”

Readers interested in supporting Cross Catholic Outreach food programs and other outreaches to the poor can contribute through the ministry brochure inserted in this issue or send taxdeductible gifts to: Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01795, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The ministry has a special need for partners willing to make gifts on a monthly basis.

Use the inserted brochure to become a Cross Mission Partner or write “Monthly Mission Partner” on mailed checks to be contacted about setting up those arrangements.

Cross Catholic Outreach Endorsed by More Than 100 Bishops, Archbishops Cross Catholic Outreach’s range of relief work to help the poor overseas continues to be recognized by a growing number of Catholic leaders in the U.S. and abroad.

“We’ve received more than 100 endorsements from bishops and archbishops,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach. “They’re moved by the fact that we’ve launched outreaches in almost 40 countries and have undertaken a variety of projects — everything from feeding the hungry and

A8 n JANUARY 2, 2022

housing the homeless to supplying safe water and supporting educational opportunities for the poorest of the poor. The bishops have also been impressed

by Cross Catholic Outreach’s direct and meaningful responses to emergency situations, most recently by providing food, medicines and other resources to partners in Haiti, Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala impacted by natural disasters.”

Bishop Ronald W. Gainer of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, supports this mission. He writes, “What a

joy it is to be part of the Lord’s redemptive work and to manifest his mercy on Earth by caring for our neighbors in need.”

In addition to praising the ministry’s accomplishments, many of the bishops and archbishops are encouraged that pontifical canonical status was conferred on the charity in September 2015, granting it approval as an official Catholic organization. This allows Cross Catholic Outreach to participate in the mission of the Church and to give a concrete witness to Gospel charity, in

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collaboration with the Holy Father.

“Your work with the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development is a strong endorsement of your partnership with the work of the Universal Church,” Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone of San Francisco said.

“By providing hope to the faithful overseas by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, delivering medical relief to the sick and shelter to the homeless, and through self-help projects, you are embodying the papal encyclical Deus Caritas Est.”

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US Catholics Helping Kobonal Haiti Mission and Other Catholic Outreaches Address Extreme Hunger in Haiti

The feeding programs run by Catholic missions in developing countries rely on support from American Catholics to obtain the food they distribute to the poor. Fr. Glenn Meaux’s Kobonal Haiti Mission is one of these. It distributes bread to students in the morning — because most come to school with an empty stomach — and also offers a hot lunch later in the day. These programs are vital to young children who might easily become malnourished without this support.

When the time comes for Regis Elmaise to prepare a meal for her family, she has few choices. When the weather has been good and local crops have been fruitful, they can eat some of the corn, potatoes and rice they grow on a small plot outside their humble home — but when the weather has been bad, her choices become much starker.

“If it doesn’t rain, we have no food,” the mother of six children said. “We are at the mercy of the weather.”

Her husband, Aneus, confirmed this painful truth. He sees hunger as a nearly constant threat, explaining that “a lack of rain makes us hungry.”

Imagine living at the whim of the weather, never knowing whether your family will be able to depend on your care because so much hangs on conditions beyond your control.

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TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

themselves alone in the final years of their lives, and they endure daily hunger as a result. Most are too frail to grow crops or find work.

“These two groups — very poor rural families and the isolated elderly — face incredible daily challenges. They have none of the opportunities or social safety nets we Americans enjoy, so when the cupboard is bare, there’s nothing to do but go hungry,” explained Jim Cavnar, president of Cross Catholic Outreach, one of the leading Catholic charities serving Haiti’s poor. “It’s tragic. In the case of children, malnutrition can lead to serious, long-term mental and physical disabilities; and for the elderly, poor nutrition weakens the body and makes them more susceptible to illnesses.”

Fortunately, accoring to Cavnar, Catholic leaders in Haiti are aware of these threats and have developed plans to address hunger in both groups. Supplying hot school lunches to at-risk children is often a priority for Catholic schools, and several in-country

missions are working to help the elderly poor. One of these missions is located in Kobonal, Haiti.

“Kobonal is in the Central Plateau, a very poor region of Haiti, and many of its rural population are at risk of malnutrition, especially during droughts and other seasons when crop yields are low,” Cavnar said. “The Kobonal Haiti Mission has become a godsend to these people. It was founded by Father Glenn Meaux and has programs to serve both poor children and the isolated elderly. If it wasn’t for that Catholic mission, I’m not sure how some of those people would survive.”

According to Cavnar, American Catholics have played an important role in making the feeding programs at the Kobonal Haiti Mission successful. Their donations provide most of the meals the ministry is distributing, and funding has also helped pay for the food’s preparation and distribution. [See related story on the opposite page.]

“We have thousands of concerned Catholics involved in our international feeding programs, and a number of them are helping the Kobonal Haiti Mission. Their gifts provide Cross Catholic

Outreach with the funding we need to send large shipments of food into the area. Some is used to provide lunches at the Catholic school Fr. Glenn runs. Other shipments are broken down to create the food packages his team distributes to the elderly in the area. Both are excellent outreaches, but neither would be this successful without the help of the American Catholics who donate to obtain and ship the food.”

It is Cavnar’s hope that the number of Catholics supporting food outreaches will grow even larger this year.

“Food is a basic human need,” Cavnar said, “and one we can easily address if people will contribute to the cause. Even a small donation for food can have a big impact. For example, a gift of $30 can provide about 200 meals to the poor, and with a gift of $150, we can ship about 1,000 meals to families in need.”

That is an incredible bang for the buck — and one every Catholic should consider as a way to cost-effectively help the world’s poor.

“Poor families around the globe are depending on us for help,” Cavnar concluded. “So we’re doing everything we can to address the urgent need for food.”

How to Help To fund Cross Catholic Outreach’s effort to help the poor worldwide, use the postage-paid brochure inserted in this newspaper, or mail your gift to Cross Catholic Outreach, Dept. AC01795, PO Box 97168, Washington, DC 20090-7168. The brochure also includes instructions on becoming a Mission Partner and making a regular monthly donation to this cause.

If you identify an aid project, 100% of the donation will be restricted to be used for that specific project. However, if more is raised for the project than needed, funds will be redirected to other urgent needs in the ministry.

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JANUARY 2, 2022 n A9

Tennessee poised for change, state pro-life leaders say If Supreme Court overturns all or part of Roe v. Wade based on Dobbs case, legal infrastructure in place to protect life

A

s U.S. Supreme Court justices weigh the pros and cons of legalized abortion and states’ efforts to regulate the federally protected practice, Tennessee pro-life leaders are encouraged by the tenor of jurists’ questions and comments during the Dec. 1 hearing of Dobbs v.

Jackson Women’s Health Organization.

The Dobbs case is widely viewed as a benchmark for the Supreme Court to either affirm the precedent-setting 1973 case that first legalized the right of abortion in every state, Roe v. Wade, or strike down all or part of Roe. In the Dobbs case, the state of Mississippi banned most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. But the ban was struck down by a federal district court in Mississippi in 2018, and that decision was upheld a year later by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans.

Baltimore Archbishop William E. Lori, chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Pro-Life Activities, in speaking for the Catholic Church, is encouraging all Catholics to pray that the Supreme Court will allow states to limit or prohibit abortion.

“In the United States, abortion takes the lives of over 600,000 babies every year,” Archbishop Lori said.

“Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health could change that. We pray that the court will do the right thing and allow states to once again limit or prohibit abortion, and in doing so protect millions of unborn children and their Tornadoes continued from page A2

“I assured him of the prayers of the good people of the Diocese of Knoxville,” Bishop Stika said. “I know of at least two churches in his diocese that were greatly damaged and perhaps others as well.”

The Diocese of Owensboro is in the Louisville, Ky., province, which includes the Diocese of Knoxville.

Early in the morning on Dec. 11, following a tornado warning for Daviess County the night before, Bishop Medley found that his cellphone service was down — and that Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear had made an announcement about lives lost in a sudden tragedy.

The bishop became horrified and heartbroken as he realized the Kentucky governor was addressing a tragedy close to home: intense storms and tornadoes that had ripped across the southern part of the Diocese of Owensboro the night of Dec. 10.

But that morning, with massive cellphone and Internet outages across Daviess County — where Owensboro, the seat of the diocese, is located — Bishop Medley could not initially communicate with anyone by phone.

“I was doing a lot of texting,” Bishop Medley told The Western Kentucky Catholic, the diocesan newspaper, in an interview on Dec. 13.

News began to trickle in about the destruction, which would later be confirmed as the worst tornado event in state history and one of the worst in U.S. history. Multiple parishes across the diocese had been impacted in one way or another.

The effects also were also being felt in Arkansas, Tennessee, Missouri, and Illinois.

The bishop heard about the impact on St. Joseph Church in Mayfield, Ky., — which, though seriously damaged, was spared some of the force when the former school building next door was destroyed instead.

Then he heard about destruction of Resurrection Church in Dawson Springs, Ky.: the roof was gone, windows shattered, and the building already estimated to be a total loss. The parish’s deacon, Mike Marsili, had later gone in to rescue the Blessed Sacrament from the miraculously spared tabernacle amid the rubble of his church.

“Saturday was very emotional,” said the bishop. For a while he tried unsuccessfully to call Father A10 n JANUARY 2, 2022

mothers from this painful, lifedestroying act.”

The archbishop has directed people to www. prayfordobbs. com for Catholic Mrs. Dunn and ecumenical prayers and resources for community engagement and action “as we await the court’s decision in this case.”

The Catholic Church maintains that the killing of unborn children is wrong and violates the teachings of Jesus Christ and His Church, which protect the sanctity of life from conception to natural death.

In Tennessee, the statewide pro-life organization Tennessee Right to Life has been closely monitoring the Dobbs case as it has made its way through lower federal courts to the Supreme Court. Stacy Dunn, president of Tennessee Right to Life, believes arguments in the Dobbs case went well for the pro-life position.

“A majority of the justices seem willing to reconsider Roe, which legalized abortion and wrongly declared abortion a fundamental right under the Constitution. I think the court would be hard-pressed not to undo what it did in 1973, which was to make up a right that doesn’t exist in the Constitution. The words ‘abortion’ and ‘right to privacy’ are not even found in the Constitution, but 48 years ago the Supreme Court claimed that killing unborn children was a fundamental right. Since then, Eric Riley, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Mayfield, and Father David Kennedy, pastor of the three Kentucky parishes of Immaculate Conception Bishop Medley in Earlington, Holy Cross in Providence, and the damaged Resurrection in Dawson Springs.

He was finally able to get in touch with both pastors via phone later that day, as emotionally difficult as it was for them to speak to each other.

On the afternoon of Dec. 12, Bishop Medley traveled to St. Jerome Parish in Fancy Farm, Ky., where the church there had opened its doors for a special 2 p.m. Mass celebrated by Father Riley for his displaced flock. An estimated 175 to 200 people attended.

Since St. Joseph in Mayfield is a predominantly Hispanic/Latino parish, the Mass was bittersweet since not only was it Gaudete Sunday (the third Sunday of Advent), but this year the day coincided with the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

A large statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe graced the sanctuary, and Father Riley’s vestments depicted Our Lady’s apparition to St. Juan Diego.

There, Bishop Medley shared a message of condolence from Cardinal Pietro Parolin, apostolic nuncio to the United States, on behalf of Pope Francis. They also learned that the pope had prayed that morning at his Angelus for “the victims of the tornadoes that hit Kentucky and other areas of the United States.”

Ms. Montalvo-Gesser attended that Mass at St. Jerome with Deacon Chris Gutiérrez, director of the diocese’s Office of Hispanic/Latino Ministry.

Ms. Montalvo-Gesser encountered a woman and her children who were present at the Mass and who had lost their home. The woman fell into Ms. Montalvo-Gesser’s arms, weeping.

Ms. Montalvo-Gesser had brought her small statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and handed it to one of the woman’s daughters.

“You will put this in your new house, which we will help you

more than 65 million children have died,” Mrs. Dunn said.

Mrs. Dunn and other pro-life leaders around the country are cauMr. Brewer tiously optimistic that change is on the horizon for abortion in the country, but they certainly aren’t overconfident. Prayers and hopes that a 1992 challenge to the U.S. abortion law would upend Roe were dashed in the landmark case Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey. In this case, the Supreme Court upheld Roe v. Wade.

But with justices appointed by conservative presidents since the Casey case now on the high court, pro-life groups have new-found hope that Roe v. Wade, all or in part, will be dismantled.

“For pro-lifers, it was so encouraging to hear the strong questions from Justices Thomas and Kavanaugh.

Justice Thomas asked the abortion attorneys to explain how the Constitution protects the so-called right to abortion—it does not. He went on ask how a state’s obligation to protect children in the womb from their mothers’ drug use was any different from a state’s desire to protect them from abortion,” Mrs. Dunn observed.

“Justice Kavanaugh’s response to the issue of overturning the precedent that was established in Roe also was encouraging. In their statements, the abortion attorneys leaned heavily

on the need for the court to uphold Roe simply because it had been in place for almost 50 years. Justice Kavanaugh blew that reasoning out of the water when he stated that some of the court’s most important cases were ones overturning prior decisions.

“While Justices Breyer, Kagan, and Sotomayor worry about the integrity of the Supreme Court if they overturn the abortion decision, the truth of the matter is that the court will not have an ounce of integrity left if they allow Roe to stand. There is simply too much known now about the baby in the womb for the court to allow the destruction to continue. If justice is to prevail, Roe will have to go. Roe was wrongly decided, and a majority of the justices realize it. Will they have the courage and wherewithal to overturn 50 years of wrongly decided precedent? That is what we pray for. Too many lives have been lost because of Roe. It is time to undo the injustice and stop the destruction.”

Will Brewer, legal counsel and director of government relations for Tennessee Right to Life, watched the proceedings remotely and studied the line of questioning during the Supreme Court arguments. Like Mrs. Dunn, who also monitored the proceedings remotely, he came away with a positive outlook for a pro-life decision.

“The votes are there to deliver a win to the pro-life cause and to return this decision to the states, which we believe is the right call,” said Mr. Brewer, a Knoxville lawyer. “But I Life continued on page A11

CATHOLIC NEWS SERVICE PHOTO/JON CHERRY, REUTERS

By Bill Brewer

A helping hand Luke Vogt, left, unloads a truck filled with provisions at Redemption City Church in downtown Dawson Springs, Ky., on Dec. 13 after tornadoes ripped through several U.S. states. The church building was converted into a night shelter and supply waypoint by locals looking to offer aid in the affected region. with,” she said.

Besides supporting the community as a whole, Ms. Montalvo-Gesser was particularly concerned for four of her Catholic Charities clients from that area — whom she had not yet heard were all right. She found three of them at the Mass, and the fourth she encountered later, helping to assist those who had been affected by the storms.

“There is a beauty of people who have lost everything, going out to see those whom they can help,” she said.

That weekend, Bishop Medley requested that parishes hold a second collection for Catholic Charities’ efforts to serve members of the impacted communities. The diocese also set up a specific fund for Catholic Charities Tornado Relief, accessible at https://owensborodiocese. org/give.

Ms. Montalvo-Gesser said monetary donations were preferred, so that Catholic Charities can allot the money to obtain what is needed on the ground in each uniquely affected area.

In his interview with The Western Kentucky Catholic, Bishop Medley said that “even today the immensity continues to expand.”

Gov. Beshear confirmed that day that at least four tornadoes had touched down in Kentucky, with one on the ground for more than 200 miles in Kentucky alone, and that lives were lost in eight counties. It is currently believed that 1,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and 18 counties sustained

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significant damage.

As of Dec. 14, the confirmed death toll in Kentucky was 74.

But the response has been powerful. In the morning of Dec. 13, the switchboard phone was ringing nonstop at the McRaith Catholic Center with calls from people across the United States wanting to send assistance. McRaith is the Owensboro Diocese’s pastoral center office.

The diocese even received a message from Archbishop Fabio Martínez Castilla of Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Chiapas, Mexico, which is the hometown of Father Carmelo Jimenez, pastor of St. Michael Parish in Sebree, Ky. At the end of the Mass in Fancy Farm, Bishop Medley told the congregation that in a few days many had planned to have a Nativity set decorating their homes in celebration of Christmas.

“But the wood of the manger gives way to the wood of the cross.

And the cross is in our churches year-round,” said the bishop. “We can make our sufferings one in communion with Christ on the cross.”

Bishop Medley pointed out that the Catholic church that had suffered the most damage in the diocese was named after the Resurrection.

“The theme of the Resurrection will be core to our thoughts during this very difficult process,” he said.

Ms. Montalvo-Gesser agreed: “God is not in the disaster. But God is in the response.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Life continued from page A10

also think that there are justices on the court that are very mindful of political influences on the court and how that’s seen by the public at large. We in Tennessee, at Tennessee Right to Life, feel like this state has let its voice be known on this issue, and we look forward to living in a post-Roe state if, in fact, the Supreme Court makes the right call.”

What impact could a pro-life Supreme Court ruling in 2022 have on Tennessee? Mrs. Dunn and Mr. Brewer agree that it will be a major victory, but it won’t end the fight for life.

“If the Court returns abortion regulation back to the states, that will be a tremendous step in the right direction.

Unfortunately, that will not be the end of our fight for life. Some states are already preparing to become abortion destinations, where they will welcome abortion providers for the clients they will target nationally. Their advertising efforts will especially target women in states like Tennessee, where Rallies continued from page A5

crowd suddenly went silent as the oral arguments began and the rally paused temporarily as live audio played through speakers.

During the oral arguments, students from Liberty University knelt in prayer. One student estimated that more than a thousand students from the school made the more than three-hour trip from Lynchburg, Va. “Talking about our faith is one thing, but actually acting upon it is another,” he said. “We have to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

So to me this is part of doing that.”

Sister Mary Karen, who has been with the Sisters of Life for 21 years, also stressed the importance of prayer. She drove from New York earlier the morning of Dec. 1 because, she said, she felt drawn to attend. She came, she said, to pray for the country and promote the Supreme Court continued from page A5

said that stare decisis is “obviously the core of this case.”

The term comes from the Latin phrase, Stare decisis at non quieta movere, which means “to stand by things decided and not disturb settled points.”

Mr. Stewart, the Mississippi solicitor general, argued that legalized abortion remains an unsettled debate in the United States nearly a half-century after Roe. He argued that the issue should be left to democratically elected state legislatures, not the courts.

“The Constitution places its trust in the people. On hard issue after hard issue, the people make this country work,” he said.

“Abortion is a hard issue. It demands the best from all of us, not a judgment by just a few of us when an issue affects everyone. And when the Constitution does not take sides on it, it belongs to the people.”

In its court brief, Mississippi cites stare decisis as the reason Roe and Casey should be overturned.

“Roe and Casey are egregiously wrong. The conclusion that abortion is a constitutional right has no basis in text, structure, history, or tradition,” the brief states. Roe itself broke from precedent because it invoked “a general ‘right to privacy’ unmoored from the Constitution,” the state argues.

“Abortion is fundamentally different from any right this court has ever endorsed. No other right involves, as abortion does, ‘the purposeful termination of a potential life,’” the brief states. “Roe broke from prior cases, Casey failed to rehabilitate it, and both recognize a right that has no basis in the Constitution.”

But Julie Rikelman, litigation director for the Center for Reproductive Rights, sharply disagreed.

“Casey and Roe were correct,” Ms. Rikelman told the justices. She represents Jackson Women’s Health, Mississippi’s last remaining abortion provider.

She added that there is “an especially high bar here” as the Supreme Court rejected “every possible reason” for overturning Roe TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

abortion would be prohibited. That’s why our outreach efforts will be as important as ever to protect the women and children in our state. We will continue working to ensure that our citizens are not entrapped or deceived by the efforts of the abortion industry,” Mrs. Dunn said.

Added Mr. Brewer, “I’m not going to pretend that, even if Roe is overturned, that the battle at the legislature will cease to exist. I think there will continue to be conflict there. And, as we all know, politics are cyclical.”

Mrs. Dunn said Tennessee already is being targeted by abortion activists for efforts to repeal state legislation if Roe is overturned.

“We will need to defend our state’s protective legislation and see what can be done nationally to pass a human life amendment so that life is protected and respected in all its ages, stages, and conditions. We look forward to the day when unborn children are protected by law in every state, not

just some,” Mrs. Dunn added.

She pointed out that in 2019 the Tennessee General Assembly, seeing the day coming when Roe v. Wade would be overturned, passed the Life Protection Act, which says if Roe is overturned in part or in whole, then Tennessee’s pre-1973 laws will be restored and abortions will be prohibited except to save the life of the mother.

Mr. Brewer noted that under the Life Protection Act, someone performing or attempting to perform an abortion could face between three and 15 years in prison and fines up to $10,000.

In the meantime, Mrs. Dunn is preparing Tennessee Right to Life’s annual March for Life, held each January.

It is the Knoxville version of the National March for Life in Washington, D.C. The local March for Life is set for Sunday, Jan. 23, at 2 p.m. at the Knoxville Convention Center.

She encourages pro-life East Tennesseans to take part in the march and

show support, especially in this pivotal year, and to visit the Tennessee Right to Life, Knox County chapter’s website at www.prolifeknox.org for more details about the family-friendly event.

“The 2022 march will be one of increased optimism on one hand because of the hope of seeing Roe v. Wade overturned. Since the decision is not likely to be handed down until late spring or summer, we will be praying for the justices, their families, and all who have influence over them. At the march, we will urge increased resolve to continue in this struggle for life.

The Supreme Court may well decide to stop the killing of unborn children, but the Biden administration is doing everything possible to expand abortion in our nation. The emphasis of the march will be to continue to build a culture of life, where abortion is not only illegal but also unthinkable. Our prayers and our efforts will continue,” said Mrs. Dunn, who is a member of Holy Ghost Church in Knoxville. ■

dignity of a human person.

“Our culture is post-abortive,” she explained. “So many people have suffered, and the loss of human life is so detrimental, just not knowing that we have value and are precious and sacred.”

She stood next to Theresa Bonopartis, who traveled from Harrison, N.Y., and ministers to women and others wounded by abortion.

“I’ve been fighting abortion for 30 years at least,” Ms. Bonopartis said.

Her ministry, called Entering Canaan, began with the Sisters of Life and observed its 25th anniversary in 2021. It provides retreats for women, men, and even siblings of aborted babies.

Abortion is personal for Ms. Bonopartis, who said she had a coerced abortion when she was just 17.

“I was kicked out of the house by

my father and then coerced into getting an abortion,” she said. “Pretty much cut me off from everything, and that’s something people don’t really talk about … they make it try to seem like it’s a woman’s right, it’s a free choice. It’s all this other stuff, but many women are coerced in one way or another.”

She guessed that she was 14 or 15 weeks pregnant at the time.

“I saw my son. I had a saline abortion, so I saw him, which I always considered a blessing because it never allowed me to deny what abortion was,” she said. Afterward, she noted that she struggled with self-esteem issues, hating herself, guilt, shame, and more. Then, she found healing.

“I know what that pain is like, I know what that experience is like, and you know that you can get past it,” she said. “You just want to be

able to give that message to other people, that they’re able to heal.”

Residents of Mississippi, where the Dobbs v. Jackson case originated, also attended.

Marion, who declined to provide her last name, drove from Mississippi to stand outside the Supreme Court. She said she was in her early 20s when Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973.

“At the time, of course, I could care less,” she said. Since then, she had a change of heart.

“We were the generation that allowed it,” she said, “and so we are the generation who will help close that door and reverse it.”

The crowd at the pro-life rally included all ages, from those who had witnessed Roe to bundled-up babies, children running around, and college students holding up homemade signs. ■

when it decided Casey nearly 30 years ago.

“Mississippi’s ban on abortion two months before viability is flatly unconstitutional under decades of precedent. Mississippi asks for the court to dismantle this precedent and allow states to force women to remain pregnant and give birth against their will,” she said.

“Two generations have now relied on this right,” Ms. Rikelman continued. “And one out of every four women makes the decision to end a pregnancy.”

A third attorney arguing before the court, U.S. Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar, representing the Biden administration in opposition to Mississippi’s abortion law, couched the Dobbs case in similar terms. She said overturning Roe and Casey would be “an unprecedented contraction of individual rights and a stark departure from principles of stare decisis.”

to deem that Roe and Casey were wrongly decided?

“Because the view that a previous precedent is wrong, your honor, has never been enough for this court to overrule, and it certainly shouldn’t be enough here, when there’s 50 years of precedent,” Ms. Rikelman responded. The court needs a “special justification” to take such a step, she argued, saying that Mississippi has failed to provide any.

Said Ms. Rikelman: “It makes the same exact arguments the court already considered and rejected in its stare decisis analysis in Casey.”

Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., a conservative, took up a similar line of questioning with Ms. Prelogar, the U.S. solicitor general.

“Is it your argument that a case can never be overruled simply because it was egregiously wrong?” he asked.

“I think that at the very least, the state would have to come forward with some kind of materially changed circumstance or some kind of materially new argument, and Mississippi hasn’t done so in this case,” Ms. Prelogar responded.

“Really?” Alito replied. “So suppose Plessy v. Ferguson (an 1896 decision that affirmed the constitutionality of racial segregation laws) was re-argued in 1897, so nothing had changed. Would it not be sufficient to say that was an egregiously wrong decision on the day it was handed down, and now it should be overruled?”

“I think it should have been overruled, but I think that the factual premise was wrong in the moment it was decided, and the court realized that and clarified that when it overruled in Brown,” Ms. Prelogar said.

“So there are circumstances in which a decision may be overruled, properly overruled, when it must be overruled simply because it was egregiously wrong at the moment it was decided?” Justice Alito asked.

When Ms. Prelogar didn’t directly answer the question, Justice Alito pressed again.

“Can a decision be overruled simply because it was erroneously wrong, even if nothing has changed

between the time of that decision and the time when the court is called upon to consider whether it should be overruled?” he asked.

“Yes or no? Can you give me a yes or no answer on that?”

“This court, no, has never overruled in that situation just based on a conclusion that the decision was wrong. It has always applied the stare decisis factors and likewise found that they warrant overruling in that instance,” Ms. Prelogar said.

Credibility concerns

Liberal justices Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kagan argued that overturning Roe and Casey would undermine the court’s integrity by signaling that its decisions were influenced by political pressure.

“Will this institution survive the stench that this creates in the public perception that the Constitution and its reading are just political acts?” Justice Sotomayor said. “I don’t see how it is possible.”

Conservative Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, however, pushed back against that reasoning. He noted that “some of the most consequential and important” decisions in the Supreme Court’s history overturned prior rulings. He cited such cases as the historic civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education, which struck down legalized segregation, and Miranda v. Arizona, which required police to inform suspects they have a right to remain silent.

“If the court had done that in those cases (and adhered to precedent), this country would be a much different place,” Justice Kavanaugh said. Why then, he asked Ms. Rikelman, shouldn’t the court do the same in Dobbs, if it were

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Justice Roberts cites China, North Korea

While the main focus of the hearing related to stare decisis, there was also discussion of the viability standard established by Roe. “I’d like to focus on the 15-week ban because that’s not a dramatic departure from viability,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said in an exchange with Ms. Rikelman.

“It is the standard that the vast majority of other countries have.

When you get to the viability standard (set at 24 to 28 weeks), we share that standard with the People’s Republic of China and North Korea,” he said.

In response, Ms. Rikelman said Justice Roberts’ statement was “not correct,” arguing that “the majority of countries that permit legal access to abortion allow access right up until viability, even if they have nominal lines earlier.” She elaborated that while European countries may have 12- or 18-week limits, they allow exceptions for “broad social reasons, health reasons, socioeconomic reasons.”

A 2021 analysis by the Charlotte Lozier Institute found that 47 out of 50 European nations limit elective abortion prior to 15 weeks.

Eight European nations, including Great Britain and Finland, do not allow elective abortion and instead require a specific medical or socioeconomic reason before permitting an abortion, the institute said.

The court may not announce a decision in the Dobbs case for several months.

The decision may come at the end of its current term, in late June or early July, when major decisions are often announced. ■ JANUARY 2, 2022 n A11

Historical artifacts of Father Patrick Ryan find a home in basilica Possible second-class relics from Servant of God’s remains occupy a casket in anticipation of canonization

By Gabrielle Nolan

Ordinariate continued from page A7

shows us the way to do it,” he said.

“And it means that sometimes we have to leave behind the things that we thought we could take with us. It means sometimes we’ll lose friends.

It means sometimes we have to say goodbye to family members to come into the fullness of the Church. Some of us had to give up jobs and livelihoods to try to just become Catholic and to live our lives as Catholics.”

Father Kramer discovered his true Church home when he did convert.

“I am so happy to have found the Church and to be able to live my life in the Church this way, and I am profoundly grateful to Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, who have responded so generously to the requests of those of us seeking to come into the Church,” he said, “that we’re able to have a Mass like this tonight, where those words that formed us and shaped us in our faith can now accompany us throughout our whole life of discipleship as Catholics and continue to give life to the Church and be vibrant aspects of our life in the Church today.”

Father Kramer thanked Bishop Stika, Father McNeeley, and Bishop Steven J. Lopes, who leads the Chair of St. Peter. Bishop Lopes recently became chairman-elect of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Committee on Divine Worship.

“I’m honored, I’m humbled to be here tonight, and I’m grateful for so many of you who have come out and who are sharing your own stories of coming into the Church and finding it home,” he said. “I want to especially thank Bishop Stika, who in response to Father’s invitation, graciously granted the request that we were able to come to celebrate this Mass here, and Bishop Lopes, who is leading the ordinariate right now and making the way for this to happen by allowing me to come tonight and celebrate this Mass and greet you in his name from the ordinariate. Especially those A12 n JANUARY 2, 2022

GABRIELLE NOLAN (2)

I

n the Church, relics are an important component of the Catholic faith, commemorating the saints who have gone before who are able to intercede in the lives of the faithful through their prayers and holy examples.

For many of the faithful in the Diocese of Knoxville, it is their hope that Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan will someday join the list of canonized saints and that his belongings officially become relics.

“The Servant of God is the first step, and the bishop has declared him Servant of God back… when we started the cause in 2016,” said Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano, who serves at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga and who also serves as the diocesan postulator in the sainthood cause for Father Ryan.

“In the Catholic Church, we make distinctions between the things that remain of a saint,” explained Father David Carter, rector of the basilica.

“Father Patrick Ryan is not there yet. We’re still in the process of postulating his sanctity, asking Rome and the Holy See, the Pope, to declare him saint one day. That’s going to require miracles and things like that,” Father Carter noted.

According to the basilica rector, the garments and possessions of Father Ryan will not be venerated as relics until after his prayed-for canonization. If and when the items are displayed in the basilica, they will be referred to as “historical artifacts of significance to Father Ryan.”

Father Ryan, once pastor of the downtown Chattanooga parish, died in 1878 of yellow fever after ministering to patients in Chattanooga during the epidemic.

Father Carter noted that after Father Ryan’s death, locals recognized him as a hero, and Knights of Columbus councils were eventually named after him.

“Even though he’s not a canonized saint, he’s still hailed as a hero, and he’s an exemplar cause of priesthood in our day, that the priesthood is under attack,” Father Carter said. “So

Preserving the past Deacon Gaspar DeGaetano shows the casket containing possessions that Father Patrick Ryan was buried with. The casket is protected under seal inside the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul. if we want a good example of who a priest is and should be, well, there’s Father Patrick Ryan.”

The Church makes distinctions between first-, second-, and third-class relics.

First-class relics are the actual mortal remains, such as the bones, of the human saint.

Father Ryan’s remains were verified in July when a successful exhumation of his grave at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Chattanooga revealed priestly vestments alongside a full skeleton. His bones were then placed in a new casket for his re-entombment at the basilica on July 31.

“But then all of the other accoutre-

Servant of God The remains of Father Patrick Ryan are now entombed in the nave of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga. Behind the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, next to the altar, is the basilica reliquary.

“We are a diocese that was created by Pope Benedict XVI to foster the full visible, corporate communion between Anglicans and Protestants with the full communion of the Catholic Church. ... One of the things I like to say is, hands down, my worst day as a Roman Catholic is better than my best day anywhere else.” else — Father Rick Kramer Moderator of the curia and director of vocations and clergy formation for the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter of you who are members of the ordinariate, I bring greetings to you from Bishop Lopes. I’d like to thank Father McNeeley for reaching out to us and asking in the first place and inviting us, Father McNeeley who himself and his family traveled this path into the Church.”

Father Kramer said that “we don’t hate the traditions we came from.

It caused me real grief to leave the Episcopal Church when I did. I didn’t leave because I hated the Episcopal Church. I left because I wanted to be a Roman Catholic, and I knew that the Church had opened up a way for me to do that.”

Father McNeeley also spoke at the Q&A. “It took me a long time to figure out I was Catholic,” he said. “We should be moving toward reunification. It is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. We should be moving toward that unity. When it became clear to me that there was going to be a liberal Episcopal Church and a conservative Episcopal Church and a halfway-in-between Episcopal Church and everything, I just said, ‘when push comes to shove, I’m Catholic.’

“That’s when the wall kind of came tumbling down, and I realized that God was calling me into true union. I learned that the only way you could be Catholic was to become a Catholic.”

Father McNeeley said “there are a number of homeless former Anglicans

that don’t know that they’re Catholic yet.”

In his homily, Father Kramer talked about the day’s Gospel reading, which told the story of Jesus’ healing Bartimaeus of his blindness.

“In the context of the Lord’s healing of the blind man Bartimaeus, we see that in the new covenant, the prayer of faith is a chief characteristic of Christian life. It has been said that prayer is the living relationship of the children of God with our heavenly Father, offered through Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit,” he said.

“The plaintive words of the blind man Bartimaeus, ‘Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me,’ is a prayer that was received and developed in the early tradition of vocal prayer in the life of the Church. It is a simple but powerful prayer that has come to be known as the Jesus Prayer.

“The most usual form is made up of two parts: an address, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,’ and a petition, ‘Have mercy on me, a sinner.’ . . . In its structure, the address of the Jesus Prayer identifies the Lord with a profession of faith. In the prayer of Bartimaeus, the title ‘Son of David’ is an acknowledgement that the Lord is the heir of David’s throne and therefore the promised one of God, who, Jeremiah said, is the one sent to restore gladness to His people, to gather them from the captivity of their exile that was the punishment for their faithlessness and sin. Here, just outside of

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ment of a person, you know, one’s possessions, the things that they were wearing, the things buried with them that had meaning for that person, those are considered what we call second-class relics,” Father Carter explained.

Such items of Father Ryan’s that survived to today include his clothing, vestments, scapular, crucifix, and travel stole.

“He’s known from having gone from house to house during the yellow fever epidemic, and it’s very probable, to the point of likely, that that stole that they buried him with — why would they have done that?

That that’s the stole that he used in ministering to the people that caused him to be the hero, you know, that caused people to say this man lived like Christ,” Father Carter said.

Originally, the team exhuming the coffin had concerns about exposure to arsenic, which in that era was commonly used for embalming. A fear that arsenic had contaminated all of the contents of the coffin led to the question of whether the items could be kept.

“All of these things, very well preserved, and those were the things that we secondarily took the time to have pulled out of the coffin, preserved or at least purified because we thought that there was arsenic, but there’s not arsenic. We got the tests, thanks be to God,” Father Carter said.

“They were cleaned in simple, pure water… so that it would cleanse the contaminants, because that’s what we were concerned with. We weren’t necessarily cleansing them for preservation, we were cleansing them of contaminants,” he said.

Even though water had leaked into the original cast iron coffin, the “vestments were in excellent condition,” said Deacon DeGaetano.

A mausoleum at the cemetery was used to allow the vestments to air dry completely.

“We used these screens that came from my attic in my house that fit right in between the two walls of the mausoleum, it was amazing,” Father Ryan continued on page A24

Jericho, passing by along the way, is the long-awaited One, who was sent to give sight to the blind.”

The Jesus Prayer “can be the first prayer on our lips in the morning,” Father Kramer said. “It can be prayed throughout all the moments of our day, and it can be the last prayer on our lips at night to help us keep focused on the Lord as we seek to follow Him in the way. We can have this confidence and trust that Jesus always responds to the prayer offered in faith.

Why, just look how this prayer got his attention. He remembers His mercy forever. He remembers that we are His little ones, and He is always ready to heal us and to help us. Therefore, let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, for ‘now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face.’”

Bishop Stika said there can be a role for the ordinariate in the Diocese of Knoxville.

“The beauty of the ordinariate, it’s kind of like things that have occurred over the last number of years with looking at the outreach that the Church can have for some of the communities that have separated from us,” he said. “One of the great quotes, I think it was John Paul, he talked about, this is more with the Orthodox, ‘the Church has to breathe with both lungs, the East and the West.’ Well, in some ways, this is kind of like that. . . . The [Chair of St. Peter] has taken some of the Anglican ritual and returned certain notions of it to make it more coincide with the Latin Rite Church. It’s kind of a combination of the old Mass and the new Mass in some ways. It’s a beautiful thing, and it’s just a way to bring people closer to Rome and to the Holy Father and his authority and jurisdiction.”

Father Kramer may have summed up his journey to the Catholic Church best at the Q&A. “One of the things I like to say is, hands down, my worst day as a Roman Catholic is better than my best day anywhere else.” ■ TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

JIM WOGAN (2)

Synod training sessions conclude; project now goes to parishes

Listening to Five Rivers Left, parishioners from the Five Rivers Deanery gather at St. Mary School in Johnson City on Dec. 13 to learn about the Diocese of Knoxville synod effort and the role it will play in the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ nationwide synod program, which eventually will become part of the global Synod on Synodality called for by Pope Francis. Right, Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville, leads discussion on the synod at St. Mary School, with some participants taking part via Zoom.

By Jim Wogan

P

ope Francis’ call to catalogue the thoughts of Catholics around the world, through the Synod on Synodality, enters its next important phase in the Diocese of Knoxville as parishes and other organizations begin the process of gathering feedback from parishioners and anyone else inside and outside of the faith.

Every Catholic church and organization around the world is taking part in the two-year synod process.

“This process touches everyone in the Church, so if you are a parishioner or a member of the Catholic faith in the Diocese of Knoxville and have a thought, you are going to have an opportunity to share it,” said Deacon Sean Smith, chancellor of the Diocese of Knoxville Deacon Smith has been tasked by Bishop Richard F. Stika with leading the East Tennessee synod effort along with co-chair Lisa Healy, ex-

ecutive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee.

“We are also reaching out to nonCatholics and those who are living on the margins of society,” Mrs. Healy said.

Training sessions for group leaders in the diocese concluded on Dec.13 with a two-hour class at St. Mary School in Johnson City.

Deacon Smith and Mrs. Healy led four training sessions in November and December at Notre Dame High School in Chattanooga, the Chancery in Knoxville, and St. Thomas

the Apostle Parish in Lenoir City in addition to the one at St. Mary School in the Five Rivers Deanery.

Since then, the group leaders have been working with pastors and organization leaders to guide and encourage them in the use of a special anonymous online springboard survey that asks important and relevant questions about the Catholic Church.

Survey results can be used to jumpstart in-person discussion if parishes and organizations decide to conduct townhall-style meetings to gather further input.

“What I envision, let’s say you are a coordinator for a parish, and you are going to gather feedback, you can decide how that works. It might be an online survey; it could be a parish townhall meeting; it’s really up to you and your pastor or organization leader,” Deacon Smith said.

“Once your parish or community has an opportunity to offer input, the coordinator is required to send

JIM WOGAN

Fire continued from page A6

CCETN continued from page A6

destruction, and it’s sad to think that someone would do this intentionally.”

The building also was home to about 10 full-time employees, dozens of volunteers, and served more than 100 clients.

Fire and insurance investigators concluded their probe Dec. 1. The building was insured, and discussions are taking place on how it will be replaced or rebuilt. In the meantime, security has been increased at Catholic Charities offices and facilities.

“A great concern that I have is for the staff,” Bishop Stika said. “The clients will continue to be served. It might be a little inconvenient, but I am concerned for the staff because they feel vulnerable. That’s not a great feeling.”

“We just take it one day at a time.

We can’t guess why this happened or why somebody would do this. But we believe in the work and the outreach, and we believe in our clients.

So, we will take extra care dealing with the staff and the volunteers. We will provide counseling if they want it. Whatever they need. We will move forward,” the bishop added.

Knoxville Police Department officers and the Knoxville Fire Department responded to the Dameron Avenue offices at around 10:30 p.m.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

the bishop explained about his visit.

“I wanted them to know that I care, and the diocese cares, and we’re here for them.”

Fire investigators have continued to look for the person or people responsible for the break-in and the blaze.

Bishop Stika was unsure if the fire was set by someone with “some type of vendetta” against Catholic Charities or the Catholic Church.

Vandalism has plagued Catholic sites across the country in recent months, with statues being dam-

To participate in the online springboard survey, please visit: https://synodsurvey.org the diocese a one-page report or synthesis that can be in the form of bullet points, a list in numerical order, or verbiage in text form. It can be that simple. We will then take the input from all our parishes, schools, and any other ministry or community that participates, and craft a 10-page report from the Diocese of Knoxville that will be forwarded to the USCCB,” he added.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops will assemble feedback from all U.S. dioceses and forward those findings to the Vatican.

East Tennessee parishes and organizations have until March 1 to submit their report to the Diocese of Knoxville. For more information on the synod and how it works, visit dioknox.org. ■ aged, tombstones in cemeteries overturned, and fires set at some facilities.

“We will be more vigilant,” the bishop said, adding that the diocese has advised its parishes to step up security measures.

“The saddest part of this is somebody, male or female, if they get caught, they’re going to go to prison,” Bishop Stika said. “If they want to get revenge or demonstrate anger ... they’re going to have to live with that. That Catholic Charities building is a building of hope that reaches out to a lot of people.” ■

Rebuilding hope Left, Bishop Richard F. Stika offers words of faith and hope to Lisa Healy, executive director of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, on Dec. 1.

How to contact Catholic Charities of East Tennessee By phone: 865-524-9896 By mail: 119 Dameron Ave. Knoxville, TN 37917 By website: https://ccetn.org on Nov. 28, where police officers found the building ablaze. It took firefighters about two hours to extinguish the flames.

According to fire department investigators, someone apparently broke into the building and started the fire, and Mrs. Healy said the incident appears to be a random act.

“The investigators are receiving leads and are following up on those leads,” Mrs. Healy said.

Catholic Charities plans to be operating from temporary offices this month, and the employees look forward to moving into new, rebuilt offices in 2023.

“We’re definitely rebuilding. We think it will be at least 12 months before we’re in a new building on Dameron Avenue,” Mrs. Healy said.

“The good news is that we are still reachable via our main phone number and our Dameron Avenue mailing address.” ■

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DAN MCWILLIAMS

Fr. Brando continued from page A1

BILL BREWER

May choirs of angels escort you into Paradise Bishop Richard F. Stika, standing with the family of Father Joe Brando, gives the final commendation for Father Brando during the funeral Mass for the Diocese of Knoxville priest. The funeral Mass was celebrated at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul on Dec. 17.

Celebrating a priest’s priest Bishop Richard F. Stika, with priests and deacons of the Diocese of Knoxville, presides at the Liturgy of the Eucharist during the funeral Mass for Father Joe Brando at the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul in Chattanooga on Dec. 17. edly placed on his casket by people who have grown to love and respect this man in his witness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Marriage Encounter, the Council of Catholic Women, Cursillo, and the Knights of Columbus. He loved the sacred Scripture. He prayed the Liturgy of the Hours with devotion, meditating on the psalms, hymns, and spiritual canticles that inspired him.

He preached with depth, insight, conviction, and wisdom. There are reams and reams of paper that can be filled with his many articles in The East Tennessee Catholic that brought the Scriptures to light. I must confess, I may have used his past articles from time to time to inspire my own preaching—yet another gift from this priest.”

Father Brando also “traveled extensively and had artifacts in his office from all around the world,” Father Carter pointed out. “He even had a piece of the Berlin Wall in his possession.

He suffered in this life. He had brain surgery and battled thyroid and colon cancer, overcoming them all. He always seemed to be able to bounce back. And he never lost his hair! He was always wanting to learn, and he turned that passion into being an excellent teacher. At the time I first knew him, he taught ethics at Cleveland State Community College and enjoyed the opportunity to share the wisdom he learned with

THE EAST TENNESSEE CATHOLIC ARCHIVE PHOTO

ordination took place at what was then Sts. Peter and Paul Church on June 3, 1972, with Nashville Bishop Joseph A. Durick presiding.

“In his 50-plus years of ministry, he served in many parishes throughout the state, including the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, where he was ordained in 1972, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Chattanooga, St. Patrick in Morristown, Our Lady of Fatima in Alcoa, St Thérèse of Lisieux in Cleveland, St. Jude in Chattanooga, and St. Mary’s in Gatlinburg,” Father Carter said.

Father Brando also served as associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Knoxville and St. Joseph Parish in Madison, Tenn., as well as pastor of St. Patrick Parish in McEwen, Tenn., and dean of the Smoky Mountain Deanery.

“He treasured his time as diocesan director of the Marriage Encounter movement and was the director of Family Life Services in the Diocese of Nashville,” Father Carter said. “He was also a strong supporter of the Council of Catholic Women. He was a proud member of the Tennessee National Guard, followed by an assignment as a chaplain in the U.S. Army.”

Father Brando was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Carmela Brando, and his brothers, John, Peter, and Thomas.

“We remember them in a special way in today’s funeral Mass, even as Father Joe joins the ranks of those entrusted to the mercy of God through death,” Father Carter said. “My condolences to Mary Mahoney, his sister; to Shantih and Megan, his nieces; and to all the family and friends of Father Joe. My gratitude for the presence of Bishop Stika, the priests and deacons of the Diocese of Knoxville, the Alexian Brothers, who showed such great hospitality to him in his failing health, and thank you also to the many faithful who have come to pay your respects and offer together these funeral rites for the repose of his soul.”

Father Carter remembered Father Brando as “a good gift-giver.”

“In fact, I have always been a little envious of the gift-giving gift he possessed. He always amazed me with the thoughtfulness of the things he would give,” he said. “They were the product of reflection and understanding of the other and spoke of a deep connection between the giver and the receiver. I remember the first gift he ever gave to me. When I was ordained a deacon in 2004, Bishop [Joseph E.] Kurtz told me I was to be assigned to the parish of St. Thérèse of Lisieux for my summer apostolate. This was the first time I had the pleasure of really getting to know Father Joe Brando. He took me under his wing and mentored me that summer. He would always ask me how things in the day had gone and wanted to pull out the wisdom I had learned and process it with me. He would listen to my homilies and give me good and honest feedback.

“This is where the gift came in. It was at the end of that summer parish experience, at the going-away party, that he presented to me a unique gift: it was the very first homily I had given at the parish. It was given to me in the form of the notes I had used: a printed page with all the marks—crossing things out, adding notes, and underlining things for emphasis. As soon as I had finished using it for the homily, I had folded it up and thrown it away in the garbage can. Unbeknownst to me at the time, it was rescued by this thoughtful man who saw a discarded piece of paper as the perfect future gift. He had unfolded it and had it framed and gave it back to me. That was 17 years ago. Here it is now,” Father Carter said as he displayed the framed homily. “Such was the type of gift this man gave, thoughtful and sincere. But the first gift was not the last. He gave me the gift of mentorship for the next four years, as I was also eventually assigned with him to St. Jude Parish here in Chattanooga. I learned from him and gained wisdom about parish life, being a pastor, and being a father to the people. It was there that I got to know him even more and learned his life story.”

That story began in New York, Father Carter noted.

“He had come from New York, but we won’t begrudge his status as a Yankee, because he was actually a Mets fan, if I recall correctly,” he said.

“He had come to Nashville to serve via a series of providential turns that he said would take hours and a few beers to adequately tell. But he was eventually ordained right here at Sts. Peter and Paul almost 50 years ago. In fact, this past summer he had passed by the basilica, and we discussed his upcoming 50th-anniversary plans.

The plans are still on, but the venue seems to have changed. Now he will celebrate it at the Banquet Feast of the Lamb for all eternity. It seems that he will finally find some rest from his labors. And labor he did. He got his doctorate in parish systems and how people and groups work together, and he put it to work in all his many apostolates.

“He was always engaged with many different apostolates and good works throughout the course of his priesthood. His involvement in many of these was represented well by the items placed on his casket. These items were specifically requested by him and were devot-

Blessing all God’s creatures, great and small Father Joe Brando presides at a blessing of pets service early in his priesthood. www.di o k no x .o rg

his students. Besides that, as well as being a fulltime pastor of a large parish, he was also a [Tennessee] National Guard and Army chaplain. He served active duty for a time in far-off places, even war zones. But that was just a snapshot of this priest’s life. He had received many gifts, and he was generous in sharing these with everyone. He truly was a good gift-giver. Above all, he gave the gift of faith to so many.”

The late priest also “had his faults, too,” Father Carter acknowledged.

“He had great ideas and had a tendency to plunge right in without all the details worked out,” he said. “This is something I sympathize with, but which caused me to a say a few cross words when he brought 50 of his closest friends on a pilgrimage to Rome while I was still a student there but hadn’t arranged for a bus to take them around! We had to get them around by public transport, and there were a couple who had mobility issues—but we made it. It worked out in the end. God provides.

“One major flaw was that he loved staff meetings. When I was an associate pastor with him at St. Jude, the weekly staff meetings would go on for hours! But by now I have forgiven him these faults because I had also learned mercy from him. I, too, have my flaws, and as a young priest he showed me mercy when I messed up.

He knew the frailty of the human condition, and he also knew its only remedy: Jesus Christ and the mercy He won for us on the cross. Father Joe Brando was such a good giver of gifts because he recognized that he had been given the greatest gift: his Catholic faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. This faith is where he found the answers to all his questions and desires, and he made a continuous invitation to all to find the answers to their life’s questions here, too.”

Father Carter added that “in that faith we are privileged to share with him, we offer today Joseph John Brando, priest of Jesus Christ. We offer him back to the greatest gift-giver of all time, God Himself. We offer him in the context of the divine gift exchange. We offer to God gifts of bread and wine, the work of human hands. God in turn offers us His Body and Blood, the work of divine redemption. ‘In Him we have redemption by His blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of His grace that He lavished upon us.’

“We, Father Joe Brando’s family and friends and recipients of his many gifts, ask that by God’s lavished grace, this man, dedicated to God’s service in this life, might now receive the Fr. Brando continued on page A15 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

Pew: Catholic numbers hold steady, ‘nones’ rise, Protestants down

By Mark Pattison Catholic News Service

Christians in the U.S. population constituted 75 percent a decade ago, or three out of every four Americans. In the new survey, that percentage is down to 63 percent, or five out of every eight Americans.

— Pew Research Center

T

he percentage of Catholics in the U.S. population in 2021 held steady at 21 percent in the latest Pew Research Center survey, issued Dec. 14.

The percentage of Protestants, however, dropped, while the percentage of “nones” — those who profess no particular denominational attachment — continued to rise, said the report, “About Three-in-Ten U.S. Adults Are Now Religiously Unaffiliated.”

The survey results also indicate the proportion of Christians in the U.S. population continues to slide. A dec-

Appeal continued from page A3

erous, and we hope that will continue.”

Deacon Armor said.

Over the years, the growth of the Bishop’s Appeal has meant an increase in financial support for the ministries.

In 2011, Catholic Charities of East Tennessee received $336,600 from the appeal compared with $500,000 annually in recent years, including 2021.

Funding for seminarian education has increased from almost $119,000 in 2011 to $500,000 in recent years. Youth and young adult program funding has increased from nearly $171,000 to $465,000. The St. Mary’s Legacy Clinic has received $500,000 from the Bishop’s Appeal over the past seven years.

ade ago, they constituted 75 percent, or three out of every four Americans.

In the new survey, that percentage is down to 63 percent, or five out of every eight Americans.

“Christians now outnumber religious ‘nones’ by a ratio of a little more than 2-to-1,” the report said.

In 2007, when Pew began asking its current question about religious identity, the ratio was almost 5-to-1, or 78 percent versus 16 percent.

Since 2007, Protestantism has dwindled from 52 percent of all Americans to 40 percent, not quite twice the percentage of Catholics today. Within Protestantism, the percentage of those adults who profess evangelical or “born again” Christianity has shrunk by 6 percent; the number of those who are not evangelical or “born again” also has shrunk by 6 percent.

The dip in the percentage of

The record numbers have been beneficial, but they also overshadow the real need within the ministries of the Diocese of Knoxville.

“For instance, the Bishop’s Appeal contributed $500,000 to Catholic Charities of East Tennessee in 2021, but CCETN’s annual budget runs about $4 million,” Deacon Armor pointed out. “Likewise, the Bishop’s Appeal has been able to contribute $500,000 for clergy and seminarian education, but the annual cost to educate seminarians is more than $900,000 a year,” he added.

Deacon Armor has been in his current position as diocesan director of stewardship and strategic planning

for just over a year. His background in business provided him with the skills Bishop Stika was looking for when considering candidates to lead diocesan fundraising efforts. The deacon also is the father of two (now adult) adopted children, which was made possible through the efforts of the Catholic Church years ago when he and his wife, Vicki, were hoping to start a family.

“Bishop Stika has recently said that Catholic Charities of East Tennessee is the social services arm of our diocese. I have been there,” Deacon Armor said.

“I have two adopted kids, so I know how much our programs can help people. I was one of those people that the

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

A gift of priesthood Father David Carter, rector of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, holds the original written version of his first homily that Father Joe Brando had framed and then presented to Father Carter 17 years ago.

“We, Father Joe Brando’s family and friends and recipients of his

many gifts, ask that by God’s lavished grace, this man, dedicated to God’s service in this life, might now receive the final gift of eternal life with Him forever.”

Father David Carter that he had to perform with Father Brando.

“A priest of Jesus Christ—that is his title. One of the saddest moments for me was when I had to communicate to him that he could no longer celebrate Mass, because he was getting a little fuzzy with the results of the brain surgery and the beginnings of the Alzheimer’s.

But it was devastating to him that he could no longer say Mass at all,” the bishop said.

“That was devastating, but I do think there is a unique relationship between Father Ryan and Father Joseph Brando—it is this (pointing to the altar) and it’s that (pointing

to the crucifix). Jesus standing at the altar of sacrifice for us. Father Joe continued to pray for us, and the altar reminds us of the magnificent life that can be lived by a priest of Jesus Christ. I will always treasure those moments when he would call me out of the blue and just say, ‘How are you doing?’

There were long discussions about his homilies. For over 22 years, his homilies were published in our diocesan paper. Father Carter, you’re not alone. I admit it, I plagiarized a little bit. But he had this depth, and no doubt he learned that depth not in Brooklyn but in Tennessee.”

Bishop Stika expressed gratitude

BILL BREWER

final gift of eternal life with Him forever.”

Bishop Stika compared Father Brando’s life to that of Servant of God Father Patrick Ryan, whose remains are at the basilica.

“I think it is so very special that we gather together in this basilica, where Father Joseph began, following his diaconate ordination, in his journey toward life as a priest,” Bishop Stika said. “In the presence of the mortal remains of Father Ryan, who never gave up, who was willing to give his life for the people of God whom he was privileged to serve.”

The bishop confessed that “I made a mistake the very first time I met” Father Brando.

“We sat in his office at St. Jude, and I said, ‘How did you wind up in Tennessee?’ An hour and a half later . . .,” the bishop added to the laughter of the assembly.

“I understood that he was a Mets fan, and his favorite player was Gil Hodges. Over the years, I would have these wonderful conversations with Father Joe when he would come to my office with one thing or another, or he would often call me on the phone, without any agenda, without asking any permission, just to see how I was doing. Wonderful conversations.

“My last conversation with him, he came to the office, I think he was dropping off his will and his funeral instructions to [diocesan chancellor] Deacon Sean [Smith].

He came to the office, and we had a long conversation. He was getting a little fuzzier with details and such, but the one thing I appreciated, he said, ‘You know, Bishop, when we celebrate Mass, we always pray for the pope, and we always pray for ‘Richard our bishop.’ He said, ‘I don’t know the pope, but over the years I’ve known you,’ and he said, ‘Can I have your blessing?’ So he knelt before me, and I gave him my blessing, and I helped him stand up a little bit, and I knelt before him, a priest of God, and got his blessing, and he helped me up.”

Father Brando baptized a future priest of the Diocese of Knoxville.

“If you look at his casket, you see all the different representations of his ministry,” Bishop Stika said. “All you people here in this basilica are privileged to represent thousands and thousands and thousands of people that he touched in one way or another as a priest of Jesus Christ. Father Joe Reed told me that [Father Brando] baptized Father Reed, so his work as a priest is passed on to Father Joe Reed.”

Bishop Stika related a sad duty

DAN MCWILLIAMS

Fr. Brando continued from page A14

A final blessing Father Alex Waraksa, associate pastor of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga, is joined by fellow priests in sprinkling holy water on the casket of Father Joe Brando as the casket is carried out of the Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul on its way to Mount Olivet Cemetery for burial. A Knights of Columbus honor guard stands at attention. www.di o k no x .o rg

Catholics is less pronounced; it was 24 percent in 2007 and 14 years later is 21 percent. The Orthodox churches make up about 1 percent of Americans, and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comprises 2 percent.

That the year-to-year percentage of Catholics held steady is likely a combination of “religious shrinking” — people no longer identifying as Catholic — offset by immigration, said Gregory A. Smith, Pew’s associate director of research.

“Religious switching” also can come into play. “It is definitely more common earlier in life than later in life,” Mr. Smith said, among Pew continued on page A24

Church helped many years ago.”

In 2022, the name of the Bishop’s Appeal has been revised. But its mission remains the same.

“A lot of people think the Bishop’s Appeal is a money-ask, but this is so much more than money,” said Allison DiGennaro, assistant director of stewardship and strategic planning.

“People come into the Church because of what it does. People living on the margins are provided shelter, food, and medicine thanks to the Bishop’s Appeal. This is a chance for people to recognize what they have been given and then give it back—so God can multiply it. That is the heart of the Bishop’s Appeal. That’s why we keep asking.” ■ toward Father Brando’s sister.

“To Mary and to the family and to those you represent, I just want to say thank you, because they say the very first seminary is in the home where the child grows up. And then they go to other seminaries and other experiences, this priest of Jesus Christ. He also served our military with love and devotion. Sure, he liked to travel, because he wanted to experience the world that God created and all the many cultures. He might have retired three or four times, and he would always come back, even when he was living with the Alexian Brothers. He wanted to come back, and I told him, ‘Your assignment now is to be a witness of the good people of the Alexian Brothers,’ and he was.

“I just want to give thanks for his prayers for me and how he really worked closely with my predecessors, because he knew the unique relationship between a priest and a bishop. One does not exist without the other. And he was a friend. This is a true celebration of the life and the death and the journey. For him, life is now changed, not ended, for a priest of Jesus Christ.”

After Mass, Bishop Stika called Father Brando “a priest’s priest.”

“He was a good man, a good homilist, an in-depth thinker, and a baseball fan. Wrong team,” said the bishop, a diehard St. Louis Cardinals backer, “but he was a baseball fan. The Mets.”

The bishop again referred to Father Brando’s columns in The East Tennessee Catholic and their use as a source for homilies.

“I think a lot of people in the priesthood did [use them that way],” Bishop Stika said. “They’re always looking for ideas.”

The Borrellos, who placed the Marriage Encounter stole on the coffin at the beginning of the funeral Mass, talked of Father Brando’s service to the ministry.

“He presented Marriage Encounter weekends for more than 30 years in Louisiana, Georgia, Tennessee, and many places,” Annie Borrello said. “He was a Marriage Encounter priest who presented Marriage Encounter weekends.”

“He was in ecclesial leadership with us in Georgia and Tennessee Worldwide Marriage Encounter,” Roger Borrello added.

Annie Borrello said “he touched so many couples, hundreds and hundreds of couples he touched by helping their relationships and their marriages.”

“He’ll be sorely missed,” Roger Borrello said. ■ JANUARY 2, 2022 n A15

A16 n JANUARY 2, 2022

www.di o k no x .o rg

TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C

CMI, now pastor of St. Mary in Gatlinburg; Father Michael Woods, pastor of neighboring parish St. Francis of Assisi in Fairfield Glade; Father Christopher Floersh, diocesan director of vocations; architect Phil Adams of J&S Construction in Cookeville and J&S officials; several committee members, including Charleen McMahan, chair of the parish pastoral council, and John Gray and Angelo Farrugia, co-chairs of the building committee; Dr. Sabina Coronado Massey of the building committee; Knights of Columbus; and numerous parishioners.

Deacon Sean Smith, diocesan chancellor, and Deacon Peter Minneci of St. Alphonsus assisted the bishop and Father Schuster at the groundbreaking.

Remembered during the ceremony were former pastors who have moved on to other assignments as well as former parishioners, many now deceased, who contributed to the building project but could not be present for the groundbreaking.

“One generation builds upon the other. We always have to remember those people who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, as the Church says, and we’re grateful for that,” Bishop Stika said. “And I’ll mention that when I dedicate the church, hopefully in August.”

Architect Mr. Adams said the new church will be 7,770 square feet and will cost $2,216,000. The church will sit in front of the parish life center.

“We have a wonderful worship sanctuary with a nice foyer, enough seating for 300, 350 people—it’s going to make a single-use facility,” he said. “They’ve had a facility, which has been a multi-use facility for a number of years, and they wanted an area where they could just worship alone, so it’s just going to be a wonderful facility for that.”

The square footage will approach 8,000 with the presence of a covered porch, or portico, Mr. Adams said.

“It’s going to have a cupola on the roof. It’s got a bell tower with an actual bell that they can use, which is pretty cool, a pull-bell that someone’s donating to them,” he said.

Having their own worship space is key for St. Alphonsus parishioners, Father Schuster said as he pointed toward the Crossville Catholics’ former church across Sparta Drive from the current property on St. Alphonsus Way. The Sparta Drive church served the parish until 2003, when the parish life center was dedicated.

“They first began way over there, the old parish down the way, which they sold,” Father Schuster said.

“We have the multipurpose room that we celebrate all of our liturgies in, but it’s important for the growth of this parish to have a separate, permanent worship space so that [multipurpose] room can actually turn into something else for communal gatherings.”

Father Schuster said “the different things going on with COVID, inflation, the increasing cost for materials have affected the overall price, but we’ve been very diligent to make sure that we have something that we can afford. We’ve been in a fundraising program right now. We already had a large amount of money saved that they’ve been saving for years. The fundraising, we’re really close to meeting our pledge goal. We’re six months into a three-year fundraising program, so everybody has really generously responded.”

There is already a target date for the completion of the new church building.

“They are telling me that once they break ground, they’re looking at six months,” Father Schuster said. “We would love it if it was six months, because that means there’s a possibility we could be here on the feast of St. Alphonsus, Aug. 1.

We just want to make sure it’s done correctly.”

Before nearly 20 people took up shovels for the groundbreaking, Bishop Stika and Father Schuster TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

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St. Alphonsus continued from page A1

Blessing the ground Bishop Richard F. Stika sprinkles holy water on the site where the new St. Alphonsus Church building will stand. Assisting him is Justin Diehl of the Knights of Columbus.

Building to come Bishop Stika stands with (from left) Deacon Sean Smith, Father Antony Punnackal, CMI, Father Mark Schuster, Father Michael Woods, Deacon Peter Minneci, and Father Christopher Floersh on the St. Alphonsus property. The parish life center now used as a worship space by St. Alphonsus may be seen in the background.

‘Everybody has really generously responded’ Father Mark Schuster, parochial administrator of St. Alphonsus, speaks at the groundbreaking ceremony as Bishop Stika listens at left. Father Schuster thanked “all the parishioners, because without your support, without your generosity, for the last 18 years, we wouldn’t have had this day.” led a prayer service, and the bishop blessed the grounds.

“It’s a wonderful day that many of you have been waiting a whole lot longer for than I have, but it’s so great to be here with you to begin this physical process of building our new permanent worship space, on a great feast day of St. Francis Xavier, a missionary who brought the Word to all the world,” Father Schuster said.

St. Alphonsus’ parish shepherd thanked “all the parishioners, because without your support, without your generosity, for the last 18 years, we wouldn’t have had this day. Even those who rest in peace over in our columbarium who were part of this process for so long, we’re thankful for their determination and their continued prayers for this as we continue to build this beautiful church that we’ll worship in for 50 to 100 years, please God longer. May we grow, may we expand and one day think, ‘We might need to build a church because this chapel is getting too small for us.’”

Bishop Stika said at the groundbreaking that he came to St. Alphonsus some eight or nine years before and heard of some parishioners “who wanted to convert the present hall into a church, and I said no because it wouldn’t have looked like a church. It would look like a hall that you have converted.

In my conversations with Father Mark, you know, a church is supposed to elevate our sense of God. It’s not supposed to be only a functional building. It’s supposed to look like a church and feel like a church. And as I see the architectural drawings and talk to Father

Mark and others on the committee, I think it’s going to be a beautiful edifice.”

A relic of St. Alphonsus may be part of the new church, the bishop said.

“I’m working on getting a relic of the patron saint of this parish,” he said. “Eventually we’ll have to put the relics in the altar, but this one could be more for public veneration, too. He’s a great Redemptorist saint and a great missionary.

I might also get a clip of Father Schuster’s hair, just in case in the future, because building a church, you’ve got to be a saint and a sinner sometimes.”

Bishop Stika called the groundbreaking “a beautiful moment, and this parish is spectacular with the food pantry and all the works of mercy and kindness and charity.”

The bishop thanked Father Schuster as well as former pastors Father Harvey, Father Punnackal, Father Patrick Brownell, and Father Mike Roark.

“We thank all those pastors who have brought us to this moment,” Bishop Stika said.

As chair of the pastoral council, Ms. McMahan said the fundraising effort that was kickstarted in 2019, two and a half years ago, has brought the parish “to this point.”

“We are absolutely delighted,” she said. “One of the most important outcomes is I believe that we’ve come together as a parish community to make this happen.

We’ve been 18 years in the making.

We have many parishioners who have donated toward the realization of the building vision for this campus who are no longer with us.

We have parishioners who have

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been part of the original group that brought us from across the street to our current campus and built the parish life center, and they have been waiting for this for many, many years.”

The building effort had many voices, she said.

“We had a lot of different opinions about how we should move forward and build a church for this parish. I think our process has brought us to coalesce on this option,” she said.

Another important point arose in the fundraising process, Ms. McMahan noted.

“It was critical to the success of this project that we not incur any long-term debt,” she said. “The fundraising has been long and arduous. As we’ve moved this project application forward, the parish has responded and is putting us over the goal line. We still have a distance to go, but we are at like the last two inches. The building will be paid for when the doors are open—well, close.”

Mr. Gray and Mr. Farrugia, cochairs of the building committee, “were originally co-chairs of the feasibility task force and developed and distilled the options for a church for this parish down to this option,” Ms. McMahan said. “They led the design process to get to the detailed designs, and now they are transitioning to the building committee, and they will see the project through to its conclusion.”

Mr. Gray said that “it’s been a long two and a half years. We started two and a half years ago planning this. We started with a task force to see if it was viable to build a new church, and from there we moved on. We’ve got the plans, and now we’re at the building stage.”

He added that “since the formation of the task force committee by Father Jim Harvey, Charlie Spadaro, and Charleen McMahan in March of 2019, we worked continuously to reach our goal of a new worship space. We came together as one team working with various other committees, such as the fundraising committee headed by Frank Casale, finance council headed by Bill Schmich, parish pastoral council headed by Charleen McMahan, task force administrator Janet Gray, and the church administration, Karen Otuonye, business and finance director.

“We also received much guidance and input from Father Michael Sweeney, pastor of Blessed Sacrament in Harriman, and Father Patrick Brownell, former pastor at St. Alphonsus Church, and our new pastor, Father Mark Schuster, who brought us over the finish line to this point.”

Mr. Farrugia called the process “a long, uphill battle, but we’re almost on top of the hill right now. Hopefully, everything will go according to plan, and in less than a year we’ll have a new worship place.”

Father Punnackal was pastor of St. Alphonsus in the early 2000s for about three and a half years.

“We were finalizing the funds for [the new church]. When I left, we had more than $700,000 we already collected,” he said. “It’s a blessing, and we are hoping for it. This church needs a physical place, not just a building but a worshiping place. They have fulfilled it. They have done it. They deserve it. They need it, and God’s blessings always with them.”

Readers wishing to contribute to the St. Alphonsus building fund may mail their donations to St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, 151 St. Alphonsus Way, Crossville, TN 38555. They may contribute electronically by visiting stalonline. org. Select the Online Giving tab, then click the Give Now box and look for “Building Fund.” For more information, call the parish at (931) 484-2358.

“It’s going to be a beautiful building,” Bishop Stika said. “They have an excellent building committee. Father Schuster has been working with them and the architects. I give a little guidance as the bishop.

It’s going to be worthy of St. Alphonsus.” ■ JANUARY 2, 2022 n A17

Making sacred music the holiday way The Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus hosted the second annual Cathedral Christmas Festival on Dec. 14, and response was enthusiastic, with all tickets taken before the free event, which is a choral, instrumental, and allsing Christmas festival. The festival is part of the Cathedral Concert Series and featured the cantors of the cathedral, the Tennessee Wind Symphony, and diocesan musicians.

Photos by Dr. Kelly Kearse

A18 n JANUARY 2, 2022

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East Tennessee Catholic Briefs Mass continued from page A7

Catholics attached to the older ritual.

In his document, Pope Francis asked bishops to “designate one or more locations where the faithful adherents of these groups may gather for the eucharistic celebration,” but he said those locations should not be parish churches and the bishops should not establish new “personal parishes” solely for celebrations in the old rite.

Archbishop Roche said several bishops asked if it would be possible for them to request permission from the Vatican to allow the celebrations in parish churches when other suitable locations were not available.

“The exclusion of the parish church is intended to affirm that the celebration of the Eucharist according to the previous rite, being a concession limited to these groups, is not part of the ordinary life of the parish community,” the archbishop wrote.

However, he said the Vatican would consider bishops’ requests for exceptions, but “such a celebration should not be included in the parish Mass schedule, since it is attended only by the faithful who are members of the said group.

Finally, it should not be held at the same time as the pastoral activities of the parish community.” And, he said, “it is to be understood that when another venue becomes available, this permission will be withdrawn.”

Another question regarded the use of other pre-Vatican II rituals for the celebrations of other sacraments. Archbishop Roche said that baptisms, confession, marriages, and the anointing of the sick could be celebrated according to the old rites, but not confirmation or ordination. And, he said, that permission is limited to “personal parishes” totally dedicated to the celebration of the older liturgy.

On other questions: n Archbishop Roche said a priest who does not recognize “the validity and legitimacy of concelebration” and, particularly, who refuses to concelebrate, even at the annual chrism Mass with the bishop, must not be given permission to celebrate the old rite since the refusal “seems to express a lack of acceptance of the liturgical reform and a lack of ecclesial communion with the bishop.” n He said the insistence in Traditionis Custodes that a bishop obtain from the Vatican permission to allow a priest ordained after the document’s publication to celebrate the old liturgy “is not merely a consultative opinion, but a necessary authorization.” n Deacons and other instituted ministers participating in celebrations of the old rite also must have the permission of the bishop, just like the priests presiding do. n A priest who celebrates a weekday Mass according to the current rite of

the Catholic Church cannot celebrate a second Mass according to the old rite on the same day.

One of Archbishop Roche the largest traditional societies of apostolic life responded to the latest document issued by the Congregation for Divine Worship that further outlines restrictions on the traditional Latin Mass.

“The recent document from the Congregation for Divine Worship released on Dec. 18 does not directly address the former Ecclesia Dei communities such as the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter who possess their own proper law,” said a statement from the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), published to its website.

“The members of the Fraternity of St. Peter promised to be faithful to our constitutions at the time of our admittance into the fraternity, and we remain committed to exactly that: fidelity to the Successor of Peter and the faithful observance of the ‘liturgical and disciplinary traditions’ of the Church in accordance with the provisions of the Motu Proprio Ecclesia Dei of July 2, 1988, which is at the origin of our foundation,” they said. “The superiors of the Priestly Fraternity will be studying the document more closely while maintaining our ministry to the faithful entrusted to our care.”

After the publication of Traditionis custodes, some dioceses in the United States moved to restrict the celebration of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite. Despite this, parishes that were entrusted to the FSSP were allowed to celebrate the extraordinary form without making any changes.

In the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas, for instance, Bishop Anthony Taylor stopped all diocesan traditional Latin Masses, but permitted the two FSSP parishes in his local church to continue celebrating the traditional Mass.

The Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, another society of apostolic life that exclusively celebrates the traditional Latin Mass, has not yet published a statement to the Congregation for Divine Worship’s document on its website or social media platforms.

The Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), a canonically irregular priestly society that celebrates using the 1962 Roman Missal, also has not released a statement regarding the CDW’s document. ■ Cindy Wooden with Catholic News Service and Christine Rousselle with Catholic News Agency compiled this report.

Funeral Mass held for Mickey Perry, former Knoxville Catholic High School teacher A funeral Mass for Mickey Perry, age 78, was held Dec. 18 at All Saints Church.

Ms. Perry was a school teacher for 30 years, having first taught at Rule High School in Knoxville before joining West High School, and then Knoxville Catholic High School for the last 10 years of her career.

Mrs. Perry was born on Aug. 28, 1943, in Washington, D.C., as the only child of Frank and Betty Schitzler, German immigrants who fled Nazi Germany. She was born three months premature, and a family friend said she Mrs. Perry looked like a little Mickey Mouse. That name stuck and Betty Anne was forever known as Mickey.

She cherished a number of significant events in her life, among them summers spent traveling across the United States and Canada as well as at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, and other summers spent visiting relatives in Germany and seeing European landmarks.

Tony Bennett sang “Happy Birthday” to her on her 17th birthday and gave her a kiss that she always remembered.

Her greatest love was her family. Left to cherish her memory are her husband of more than 50 years, Charles; three sons: Rick, Chris, and Jason; daughter Susan; and seven grandchildren: Jake, Patrick, Dawson, Justin, Ellie, Brennen, and Braxton.

Mrs. Perry was a devoted Catholic, but illness kept her away from church and her church family for many years. Donations to a favorite charity may be made in Mrs. Perry’s name.

Ruth Cody Demers passes away at the age of 81 A funeral Mass was held at St. John Neumann Church on Dec. 4 for Ruth Cody Demers, who passed away peacefully on Nov. 27 at age 81 after a long battle with Alzheimer ’s disease.

Burial at Pleasant Forest Cemetery followed the Mass.

Mrs. Demers was born in 1940 in Brockton, Mass., into a large Irish family. She graduated from Avon High School and went on to earn a degree in teaching from Bridgewater State University.

While in high school she worked at Gowell’s Candy, where she met her future husband in 1957. The two were married in 1962 at St. Michael Catholic Church in Avon.

After years of medical school and residency for her husband, Dr. Robert Demers, the couple settled in Baltimore in 1969. Eventually, the family of four relocated to Fayetteville, N.C., and then onto Knoxville in 1982, where they became active members of St. John Neumann.

Mrs. Demers was preceded in death by her husband; her father, William Cody; mother, Anna Cody; and brother, William “Billy” Cody.

She is survived by her daughters Ellen Demers Mortinsen of Murfreesboro and Theresa Demers Haralson (Matthew Haralson) of Alcoa; and grandchildren Megan, Weston, Ethan, and Evan.

Memorials to Mrs. Demers may be made to the Alzheimer ’s Association (act.alz.org/donate) or 225 N. Michigan Ave., FL. 17, Chicago, IL 60601.

Funeral Mass held for Mary Shirley Johnson Nicholson A funeral Mass was held for Mary Shirley Johnson Nicholson, age 100, on Dec. 11 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Father David Boettner serving as celebrant.

Mrs. Nicholson, who died on Nov. 28 at Shannondale Health Care Center, was born on July 31, 1921, in Chicago to Floyd and Ida Johnson.

After living and attending school in Chicago, Elgin, Ill., St. Charles, Ill., and Frankfurt, Ind., she graduated at the top of her class from Purdue University in December 1942.

She was recruited as a Curtiss-Wright Cadette as Mrs. Nicholson part of the World War II effort and took part in an aeronautical engineering training program at Penn State University. She then worked for the Curtiss-Wright company in Buffalo, N.Y., and Columbus, Ohio. She eventually moved to Oak Ridge to work for Fairchild Aircraft on the nuclear energy for propulsion aircraft project.

Mrs. Nicholson married Edward (Nick) Lee Nicholson Jr. in February 1951 in Oak Ridge. Mr. Nicholson was a chemical engineer who worked in Oak Ridge as part of the Manhattan Project and later retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Mrs. Nicholson was active in many Knoxville-area organizations, including the Ladies of Charity and the Smoky Mountains Storytelling Association.

She is preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Nick; her son, Edward Lee Nicholson III, sister Lorraine; and brothers Jim and Pat. She is survived by her sister, Fran Johnston; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Paul Edward Nicholson and wife Faye Chang of Thousand Oaks, Calif., Dr. Charles Patrick Nicholson and wife Dr. Niki Stephanie Nicholas of Norris and Oneida, and Gerard Lee Nicholson of Guyton, Ga.; and grandchildren Ian Nicholson of Oxnard, Calif., Elle Nicholson of Alexandria, Va., and Eric Nicholson of San Diego; great-grandchild Dylan Nicholson; and foster son, Nguyen Nho Phong of New Market, Va. Memorials may be made in Mrs. Nicholson’s name to the American Chestnut Foundation, www.acf.org, or the Sacred Heart Cathedral building fund, www.shcathedral.org.

Joseph Sprouls, member of St. Joseph Church in Norris, dies A funeral Mass for Joseph Vincent Sprouls was held on Dec. 15 at St. Joseph Church in Norris, with Father Richard Armstrong serving as celebrant.

Mr. Sprouls, who was 96, was born April 5, 1925, in Jersey City, N.J. to Joseph and Gertrude Pecinich Sprouls.

Mr. Sprouls joined the U.S. Navy in 1943 and served aboard the USS Sproston in the Aleutian Islands and the South Pacific. After serving in the Navy, he worked for many years as a linotype operator in the New York City area. While living in New Jersey, Mr. Sprouls learned carpentry and wood-working. He later volunteered these skills for St. Joseph Church, the Lenoir Museum, and other organizations. He also created furniture for his family and frames for his wife’s paintings, which were exhibited in New Jersey, New York, and Tennessee.

Mr. Sprouls also served on the Norris Planning Board for several years.

He was married for 62 years to Patricia Mertig Sprouls from 1948 until her death in 2011. He is survived his son Timothy Sprouls and partner Anne McLaughlin of Rhode Island and daughter Cynthia and her husband Charles Edrington of Norris. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Cody Edrington and his wife Amber of Knoxville, Susan Edrington Iglehart and her husband Jake Iglehart of Knoxville, Marissa Sprouls of Connecticut, and Zoe Sprouls of Massachusetts. He also leaves four great-grandchildren, Joseph and Claire Iglehart and Crosby and Corinne Edrington all of Knoxville. ■

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JANUARY 2, 2022 n A19

Diocese of Knoxville Annual Financial Report

Years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 BROWN JAKE & McDANIEL, PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS BROWN JAKE & McDANIEL, 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, SUITE 110 PC CERTIFIED PUBLIC BROWN JAKE & ACCOUNTANTS McDANIEL, PC KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37919-3336

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS 2607 KINGSTON SUITE 110 865/637-8600 •PIKE, fax: 865/637-8601 2607 KINGSTON PIKE, SUITE 110 KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37919-3336 www.bjmpc.com KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE 37919-3336 865/637-8600 • fax: 865/637-8601 865/637-8600 • fax: 865/637-8601 www.bjmpc.com www.bjmpc.com

Greetings in the name of Jesus our Savior. Please know JOE L. BROWN, CPA, CGFM, CGMA that I have kept you in my prayers all year and especially FRANK D. McDANIEL, CPA, CGFM, CGMA MEMBERS L. CGFM, BROWN, CGMA CPA, CGFM, CGMA JOE L. BROWN, JOE CPA, TERRY L. MOATS, CPA, CGFM, CGMA AMERICAN INSTITUTE FRANK D. McDANIEL, CGFM, CGMA MEMBERS during the recent Christmas season and the celebration of FRANK D. McDANIEL, CPA, CGFM,CPA, CGMA MEMBERS JAMES E. BOOHER, CPA, CGMA CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOU TERRY L. MOATS, CPA, CGFM, CGMA AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF TERRY L. MOATS, CPA, CGFM, CGMA AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF JAMES E. BOOHER, CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS the Epiphany of our Lord this month.

HALEY S. SLAGLE, CPA, CGMACPA, CGMA JAMES E. BOOHER, CPA, CGMACPA, CGMA CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTAN HALEY S. SLAGLE, HALEY S. SLAGLE, CPA, CGMA Each year, as your bishop, I bring to you an audited INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT report on the financial position of our diocese. I do so for Most Reverend Richard F. Stika INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT Most Reverend Richard F. Stika the most recent fiscal year of 2020-21 with great enthusiDiocese of Knoxville Chancery Office Diocese of Knoxville, Knoxville Chancery Most Reverend Richard F. Stika Office Tennessee asm because, even during uncertain times, you, the faithKnoxville, Diocese of Tennessee Knoxville Chancery Office We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Diocese of Knoxville Chancery Office (a nonprofit Knoxville, Tennessee organization), which comprise the statements of financial position as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the related ful of the Diocese of Knoxville, continue to show trust We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Diocese of Knoxville Chancery Office (a nonprofit statements of activities, functional expenses and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the We have audited thecomprise accompanying financial statements Diocese nonprofit organization), which the statements of financial ofposition asofof Knoxville June 30, Chancery 2021 andOffice 2020, (aand the related financial statements. and generosity in all that we do. organization), comprise the statements financial position Junethen 30, 2021 and 2020, the notes relatedto the statements of which activities, functional expenses of and cash flows for as theofyears ended, and the and related Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements I am pleased to tell you that the fiscal position of the Diocese of Knoxville is statements of activities, functional expenses and cash flows for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with financial statements. strong, and I say this with a great degree of confidence. accounting principles generally in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation, and Management’s Responsibility for accepted the Financial Statements maintenance of internal control relevant to the Statements preparation and fair presentation of financial statements that are free Management’s Responsibility for the Financial �e accounting firm that independently audits our financial information, Brown fromismaterial misstatement, whether due to fraud or fair error.presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Management responsible for the preparation and Management is responsible for the preparation fair presentation of thesethis financial statements in accordance with and accounting Auditor’s principles generally accepted in theand United States of America; includes the design, implementation, Responsibility Jake & McDaniel, PC, recently presented to our diocesan finance council. A reaccounting principles generally accepted in to thethe United States ofand America; this includesof thefinancial design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant preparation fair presentation statements that are free Our responsibility is to express an opinion these financialand statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits maintenance ofmisstatement, internal control relevant to to theon preparation presentation of financial statements that are free view of its financial statement and the accompanying notes will confirm that, as from material whether due fraud or error.in thefair in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted United States of America. Those standards require from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free a diocese, we have been aggressive and prudent in the way that we advance our Auditor’s Responsibility from material misstatement.

Auditor’s Responsibility mission.

An audit is involves performing procedures obtain financial audit evidence about the amounts andour disclosures the conducted financial Our responsibility to express an opinion ontothese statements based on audits.inWe our audits Our responsibility is to express an opinion ondepend these financial statements based on our Weofconducted statements.

The procedures selected on the auditor’s judgment, including the audits. the risks ofour audits in accordance withauditing auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of assessment America.

Those standards require Our diocese does not stand still, and in many ways, we have exemplified the material of the financial statements, whether fraud orStates error. In those Those risk assessments, in accordance withmisstatement standards generally accepted indue thetoUnited ofmaking America. standards require that we we plan plan and perform the audit obtain reasonable assurance whether financial statements are free theand auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s preparation andabout fairwhether presentation the financial statements perform the audit totoobtain reasonable assurance about theof the financial statements are free command given by Jesus to his Apostles to “Go into the whole world and proclaim that in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an from material material misstatement. from misstatement. opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). includes performing evaluating the procedures appropriatenesstoofobtain accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accountingin the financial An audit audit involves involves audit evidence about amounts and disclosures An performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the the amounts and disclosures in the financial estimates made by management, as depend well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. statements.

Theprocedures procedures selected auditor’s judgment, including assessment of risks the risks statements.

The selected depend onon thethe auditor’s judgment, including the the assessment of the of of Our efforts to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to East Tennessee have 2 We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient andfraud appropriate toInprovide a basis forrisk our assessments, audit material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to or error.

In making those risk assessments, material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. making those DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE opinion. been impactful, and yes, they come with a cost. We have built new churches and the auditor auditorconsiders considersinternal internalcontrol control relevant entity’s preparation presentation offinancial the financial statements the relevant to to thethe entity’s preparation andand fair fair presentation of the statements CHANCERY OFFICE Basis for Qualified Opinionthat order to todesign design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, for purpose the purpose of expressing in order audit procedures are appropriate in the circumstances, but but not not for the of expressing an an expanded ministries. Our diocese grows in good ways. We are here to serve those opinion on on the theexplained effectiveness the entity’s internal control.

Accordingly, express no such opinion.

An audit opinion effectiveness ofofto the internal control.

Accordingly, express no such opinion.

An audit also also As in Note 14 theentity’s financial statements, management has electedwe notwe to report actuarially determined other STATEMENTS FINANCIAL POSITION who can afford to live in this world, inOFaddition to those who have, for whatever post-retirement employee benefit costs asaccounting expenses policies andpolicies the associated obligation as a liability. Accounting includes evaluating evaluating theappropriateness appropriateness used and reasonableness of principles significant accounting includes the ofof accounting used and the the reasonableness of significant accounting generally accepted in the United States of America require that actuarially determined other post-retirement employee estimates by asaswell asas evaluating thethe overall presentation of the financial statements. estimates made made bymanagement, management, well evaluating overall presentation of the financial statements. reason, been left without much hope.

We do so with a profound sense of serving as benefit costs be reported as expenses and the associated obligation be reported as a liability. The effects on the JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 financial statements of have the failure to report determined other post-retirement employee We that evidence we obtained is actuarially sufficient andand appropriate to provide a basis for our We believe believeaccompanying that the theaudit audit evidence wehave obtained is sufficient appropriate to provide a benefit basis for audit our audit Jesus would. costs as expenses and the associated obligation as a liability have not been determined. opinion. opinion.

Qualified Opinion I urge you to review this financial report. I believe the statement reflects a dioBasis Opinion Basis for for Qualified Qualified Opinion In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial cese that cares deeply aboutASSETS its mission and strives to fulfill it with an abundance statements referred tofinancial above present fairly, in management all material respects, the financial position ofactuarially Diocese of determined Knoxville As ininNote 14 statements, hashas elected not not to report otherother As explained explained Note 14totothe the financial statements, management elected to report actuarially determined 2021 2020 Chancery Office as of Junecosts 30, 2021 and 2020, and thethe changes in its net obligation assets and its flows for Accounting the years thenprinciples post-retirement employee benefit asas expenses and associated ascash aas liability. of respect for good stewardship and an adherence to sound financial practices. My post-retirement benefit costs expenses andaccepted the associated obligation a liability. Accounting principles endedemployee in accordance with accounting principles generally in the United States of America. generally accepted in the United States of America require that actuarially determined other post-retirement employee generally accepted in the United States of America require that actuarially determined other post-retirement employee 2 pledge toequivalents you is that we will continue to take this trust seriously. costs be reported as expenses and the associated obligation be reported as a liability.

The effects on the Cash and cash $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 benefit benefit costs be reported as expenses and the associated obligation be reported as a liability. The effects on the DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 2 financial statements of the failure to report actuarially determined other post-retirement employee benefit Accounts receivable 159,170 accompanying Please know that I pray for your continued blessings in 2022,586,510 and I remain grateaccompanying financial statements of theDIOCESE failure toOF report actuarially determined other post-retirement employee benefit KNOXVILLE Knoxville, Tennessee costs as expenses and the associated obligationCHANCERY as a liabilityOFFICE have not been determined.

Novemberand 17, 2021 Interest receivable 28,650 33,418 costs as expenses the associated obligation as a liability CHANCERY OFFICEhave not been determined. ful for all that you have done for the Diocese of Knoxville.

Other assets Unconditional promises to give Yours in Christ, Investments Loans receivable from parishes and others Land, buildings and equipment, net

Qualified Opinion STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION Qualified Opinion STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION In our opinion, except for the effects of the matter described the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial  in the  In our opinion, except the effects the matter described in for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 Basis statements referred to for above presentoffairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Diocese of Knoxville JUNEin30,all2021 and 2020respects, the financial position of Diocese of Knoxville statements referred to above present fairly, material Chancery Office as of June 30, 2021 and 2020, and the changes in its net assets and its cash flows for the years then Chancery Office as ofwith June 30, 2021principles and 2020, and theaccepted changesininthe its United net assets and cash flows for the years then ended in accordance accounting generally States ofits America. ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

ASSETS ASSETS 2021 2021 2020 2020 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Knoxville, Tennessee Knoxville, Tennessee November 17, Cash cash2021 equivalents $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 $ 19,172,962 2 Cash and and cash equivalents $ 28,990,571 November 17, 2021 Accounts receivable 586,510 586,510 159,170 159,170 Accounts receivable 2 Interest receivable 28,65028,650 33,418 33,418 Interest receivable DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Other assets assets 53,75253,752 166,566 166,566 Other    to give 216,538 354,593 354,593 Unconditional promises Unconditional 216,538    CHANCERY OFFICEpromises to give 2 2 Investments 14,937,331 11,772,176 Investments 14,937,331 11,772,176 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Loans receivable from parishes and others 29,620,392 35,536,184 Loans receivable from parishes and others 29,620,392 35,536,184 CHANCERY OFFICE Land, buildings and equipment, net 7,138,225 7,376,328 Land, buildingsPOSITION and equipment, net 7,138,225 7,376,328 STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL 359,164 $ 335,618

53,752 216,538 14,937,331 29,620,392 7,138,225

Total assets

$

Most Reverend Richard F. Stika Bishop of Knoxville

166,566 354,593 11,772,176 35,536,184 7,376,328

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE CHANCERY OFFICE

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

Liabilities: CHANCERY OFFICE Accounts payable $ STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION Deferred restricted revenue Note payable - bank JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 Medical claims reserve Deposits payable to parishes and others Funds held for others ASSETS

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITIONSTATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION 21,704 80,204 Total assets $ 81,571,969 13,791,252 8,145,480 34,285,273 197,863

15,413,015 JUNE6,063,057 30, 2021 25,003,009 6,622,363

56,800,736 ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents

$

NetAccounts assets: receivable Interest receivable Without donor restrictions Other donor assets restrictions With

28,990,571 586,510 28,650 6,619,778 53,752 18,151,455 216,538 14,937,331 24,771,233 29,620,392 7,138,225

ASSETS

Cash and cash equivalents Unconditional promises to give Investments Accounts receivable Total net assets Loans receivable from parishes and others Interest receivable Land, buildings and equipment, net

$

and 2020

$

2020

53,517,266

19,172,962 159,170 33,418 6,052,863 166,566 15,001,268 354,593 11,772,176 21,054,131 35,536,184 7,376,328

81,571,969

$

74,571,397

$

74,571,397

JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020

JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020

2021

Total liabilities

Total assets

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE

LIABILITIES ANDASSETS NET ASSETS CHANCERY OFFICE

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

Liabilities: Accounts payable Liabilities: Cash and cash equivalents Deferred restricted Accounts receivable Accounts payable revenue Note payable - bank revenue Interest receivable Deferred restricted Medical claims reserve Other assets - bank Note payable Deposits payable to parishes and others Unconditional Medical claimspromises reserve to give Funds held for others

2021

$

2021

2020

STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES $

359,164 335,618 $ 28,990,571$ $ 19,172,962 586,510 159,170 $ 21,704359,164 $80,204 335,618 13,791,252 21,704 28,650 15,413,015 80,204 33,418 8,145,480 6,063,057 53,752 166,566 13,791,252 15,413,015 $ 19,172,962 34,285,273 216,538 25,003,009 354,593 6,063,057 Without Donor With8,145,480 Donor 197,863 6,622,363 14,937,331 11,772,176 34,285,273 25,003,009 Restrictions 159,170 Restrictions Total 29,620,392 35,536,184 197,863 6,622,363 56,800,736 53,517,266 33,418 7,138,225 $ 7,376,328 $ 903,652 $ 2,060,540 2,964,192 159,358 166,566 258,599 417,957 56,800,736 53,517,266 $ 81,571,969 $ 6,727 74,571,397 6,727 6,619,778 6,052,863

FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021

28,990,571 2021

Investments Deposits payable to parishes and others 586,510 Loans fromother parishes and others Revenues, and support: Funds receivable heldgains for others Total liabilities 28,650 Land, buildings and equipment, net Bishop's appeal

2020

2020

Total liabilities and net assets $ 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Cash and cash equivalents 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 Contributions and bequests $ Total liabilities Other assets 53,752 Net assets: Total assets $ 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Total assets Capitaldonor campaign Without restrictions Unconditional promises to give 216,538586,510 100,000 354,593 Accounts receivable Grants 1,336,372 159,170 1,436,372 NetWith assets: donor restrictions 18,151,455 15,001,268 Servicedonor fees and revenues 1,000 1,000 Without restrictions 6,619,7786,052,863 Investments 14,937,331 11,772,176 Interest - deposit and loan 582,795 Interest receivable 28,650 582,795 24,771,233 33,418 Totalincome net assets 21,054,131 With donor restrictions 18,151,45515,001,268 Loans receivable from parishes and others 29,620,392 35,536,184163,798 Investment income 66,442 230,240 Total and net LIABILITIES assets 74,571,397 Net gain/(loss) - investments 59,130$ 81,571,969 866,766 $ 166,566 925,896 NET ASSETS AND NET53,752 ASSETS Other assets LIABILITIES Totalliabilities net assets 24,771,233 21,054,131 Land,AND buildings and equipment, net 7,138,225 7,376,328 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2) 2,309,323 2,309,323 Assessments: promises toangive 216,538 Unconditional Liabilities: Liabilities: Total liabilities and net assets $ 81,571,969 354,593 $ 74,571,397 The accompanying notes are integral part of these financial statements.

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Parishespayable (governance and services offices) 1,378,781 1,378,781 Accounts payable $ 359,164 $ 335,618 3359,164 Accounts $ $ 335,618 Total assets $ 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Priest health andrevenue retirement 1,123,628 1,123,62880,204 Deferred restricted revenue 21,704 80,204 OF KNOXVILLE Investments 14,937,331 11,772,176 Deferred restricted 21,704 DIOCESE CHANCERY OFFICE Catholic schools 117,547 117,547 Note payable - bank 13,791,252 15,413,015 Note payable - bank office 13,791,252 15,413,015 CHANCERY OFFICE Diocesan newspaper 528,366 528,366 3 Medical claims reserve 8,145,480 6,063,057 Medical claims reserve 8,145,480 6,063,057 Loans receivable from parishes and others 29,620,392 35,536,184 Tribunal 231,609 231,609 KNOXVILLE Deposits payable to parishes and others DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 34,285,273 25,003,009 Deposits payable to parishes and notes othersare anDIOCESE 34,285,273 25,003,009 The accompanying integral partOF of these financial statements.

Cathedral 315,003 315,003 CHANCERY OFFICE CHANCERY OFFICE STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES Funds heldbuildings for others 197,863 6,622,363 STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES Funds held for others 197,863 6,622,363 Land, and equipment, net 7,138,225 7,376,328 Diaconate program 18,334 18,334 Total liabilities

STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES

YEAR ENDED Total assets FOR THE JUNE 30, 2021

Net assets: Without donor restrictions With donor restrictions

56,800,736

53,517,266

6,619,778 18,151,455

6,052,863 15,001,268

Promotion The of vocations OFof358,549 ACTIVITIES accompanying notes STATEMENTS are an integral part these financial statements.

Total liabilities 56,800,736 453,356 233,014 FOR THE YEAR ENDED Satisfaction of program restrictions (5,201,853) JUNE 30,5,201,853 2021

FOR THE YEAR ENDED Other income LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS FOR THE NetENDED assets released from restrictions: JUNEYEAR 30, 2021 Net assets: $ Without donor restrictions JUNE 30, 2021

81,571,969

$

74,571,397 -

6,619,778 18,151,455

With donor restrictions Liabilities: Without Donor With Total revenues, gainsDonor and other support 10,482,502 3,150,187 Without Donor With Donor Without Donor With Donor Restrictions Restrictions Restrictions Restrictions Total Restrictions Restrictions Total Accounts payable $ 359,164 $ 335,618 Total net assets 24,771,233 21,054,131 Total net assets 24,771,233 Revenues,Donor gains and other support: Expenses: Revenues, gains and other support: Without With Donor $ 903,65280,204 Revenues, gains and other support: Bishop's appeal $ 2,060,540 Bishop's appeal $ 903,652 $ 2,060,540 $ 2,964,192 Program services: Deferred restricted revenue 21,704 Total liabilities and net assets $ 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Total liabilities and net assets $ 81,571,969 Bishop's159,358 appeal $ Restrictions 903,652 $ and 2,060,540 $ 2,964,192 Contributions bequests 159,358 Total 258,599 Contributions and bequests 258,599 417,957 Pastoral 1,436,909 Restrictions Note payable - bank6,727 and bequests 13,791,252 15,413,015 Capital personnel campaign development 6,727 Capital campaign 6,727 Contributions 159,358 258,599 417,957 - Religious and care 1,478,044 Grants formation 100,000 Grants 100,000support: 1,336,372 1,436,372 Diaconate Revenues,Medical gainsclaims and other reserve 8,145,480 6,063,057 1,336,372 Capital campaign 6,727 6,727 75,987 Service fees and revenues 1,000 Service fees and revenues 1,000 1,000 Education 1,070,188 - Grants 100,000 1,336,372 1,436,372 payable to parishes and others 34,285,273 25,003,009 Interest income - deposit $ and loan 2,060,540 315,004 appeal $ Cathedral 903,652 $582,795 2,964,192 Interest income - depositBishop's and loan Deposits 582,795 - NET582,795 - LIABILITIES AND ASSETS Investment income 66,442 163,798 Service fees and revenues 1,000 1,000500,000 Investment income 66,442 163,798 230,240 Catholic Charities Funds held for others 197,863 6,622,363 Contributions and bequests 159,358 258,599 417,957 Net gain/(loss) - investments 59,130 866,766 Net gain/(loss) - investments 59,130 866,766 925,896

Interest income - deposit and loan

Communications 582,795

-

Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2)

582,795559,406

-

358,549 53,517,266 686,370

2,309,323

6,052,863 15,001,268

13,632,689 Total

21,054,131

$

2,964,192 $ 74,571,397 417,957 1,436,909 6,727 1,478,044 1,436,372 75,987 1,000 1,070,188 582,795 315,004 230,240 500,000 925,896 559,406 2,309,323 945,901

Promotion of vocations 945,901 66,442 163,798notes are an integral 230,240 Capital campaign 6,727 -part673,382 6,727 of these financial statements.

Assessments: Interest expense The and accompanying bank service charges 673,382 Liabilities: 56,800,736 53,517,266 Parishes (governance and services offices) 1,378,781 1,378,781 59,130 866,766 925,896 General100,000 administration 2,325,706 - 2,325,706 Grants 1,336,372 1,436,372 Priest health and retirement 1,123,628 1,123,628 Capital campaign expenses 189,915 189,915 2,309,323 2,309,323 Accounts payable 359,164 335,618 Catholic office$ 117,547 $ 117,547 Development and schools planning - 345,145 Service fees and revenues 1,000 - 345,145 1,000 Diocesan newspaper 528,366 528,366 Tribunal 231,609 231,609 1,378,781 1,378,781 Deferred restricted revenue 21,704 Total expenses 9,915,587 - - 80,204 9,915,587 Interest income - deposit and loan 582,795 582,795 6,619,778 6,052,863 Cathedral 315,003 1,123,628 1,123,628 315,003 Diaconate program 18,334 18,334 Note payable - bank income 13,791,252 15,413,015 Investment 163,798 230,240 Change in net66,442 assets 566,915 3,150,187 3,717,102 18,151,455 15,001,268 117,547 117,547 Promotion of vocations 358,549 358,549 528,366 - 8,145,480 528,366 453,356 Other income 233,014 686,370 Net gain/(loss) 866,766 925,896 Medical claims reserve - investments 6,063,057 Net assets at 59,130 beginning of year 6,052,863 15,001,268 21,054,131 Net assets released from restrictions: 231,609 231,609 21,054,131 Satisfaction of restrictions 5,201,853 (5,201,853) Unrealized gain/(loss) investments (Note 2) - program24,771,233 2,309,323 Net assets at end of year $ 6,619,778 $ 18,151,455 $ 24,771,233 Deposits payable to parishes and-others 34,285,273 25,003,009 315,003 - 2,309,323 315,003 Diaconate 18,334Total revenues, gains and- other support 18,334 10,482,502 3,150,187 13,632,689 Total revenues, gains and other support 10,482,502program 3,150,187 13,632,689 Funds heldAssessments: for others Total liabilities 197,863 6,622,363 net assets $ 81,571,969 $ 74,571,397 Promotionand of vocations 358,549 358,549 Parishes (governance and services offices) 1,378,781 233,014 1,378,781 Expenses: Expenses: Other income 453,356 686,370 Program Theservices: accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.

Program services: Priest healthNetand retirement 1,123,628 1,436,909 1,123,628assets released from restrictions: Pastoral 1,436,909 Pastoral 1,436,909 1,436,909 1,478,044 Religious personnel development and care Total liabilities 56,800,736 53,517,266 Satisfaction of program restrictions 5,201,853 (5,201,853) - 1,478,044 1,478,044 Religious personnel development and care 1,478,044 Catholic schools office 117,547 117,547 Diaconate formation 75,987 75,987 Diaconate formation 75,987 75,987 Education 1,070,188 1,070,188 Education 1,070,188 1,070,188 Diocesan newspaper 528,366 528,366 Total revenues, gains and other 315,004 support 10,482,502 3,150,187 13,632,689 315,004 Cathedral 315,004 Cathedral 315,004 Catholic Charities 500,000 500,000 Charities 500,000 500,000 Tribunal 231,609 231,609 NetCatholic assets: Communications 559,406 559,406 Communications 559,406 Expenses: 559,406 Promotion of vocations 945,901 945,901 Cathedral 315,003 315,003 Promotion of vocations 945,901 945,901 Without donor restrictions 6,619,778 6,052,863 Program services: Interest expense and bank service charges 673,382 673,382 Interest expense and bank service charges 673,382 673,382 General administration 2,325,706 2,325,706 Diaconate program 18,334 18,334 Pastoral 1,436,909 1,436,909 General administration 2,325,706 2,325,706 With donor restrictions Religious 18,151,455 15,001,268 The accompanying- notes 189,915 are an integral part of Capital thesecampaign financial statements. expenses 189,915 189,915 Capital campaign expenses 189,915 1,478,044 personnel development and care 1,478,044 Development and planning 345,145 345,145 Promotion of vocations 358,549 358,549 Development and planning 345,145 345,145 Diaconate formation 75,987 75,987 Other income Education 453,356 233,014 686,370 Total expenses 9,915,587 1,070,188 1,070,188 9,915,587 Total expenses 9,915,587 9,915,587 Total net assets 24,771,233 21,054,131 Cathedral 315,004 315,004 Net assets released from restrictions: Change in net assets 566,915 3,150,187 3,717,102 Change in net assets 566,915 3,717,102 Catholic Charities3,150,187 500,000 w ww.di o k no x .o 500,000 rg A20 n JANUARY 2, 2022 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C Satisfaction ofCommunications program restrictions 5,201,853 (5,201,853) Net assets at beginning of year 15,001,268 21,054,131 559,406 559,406 6,052,863 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2) 2,309,323 2,309,323 Investment income Assessments: The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. liabilities Net gain/(loss) Parishes (governance and services offices)Total 1,378,781 - investments 1,378,781 Priest health and retirement 1,123,628 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments1,123,628 (Note 2) Catholic schools office 117,547 117,547 Assessments: Diocesan newspaper 528,366 528,366 Net assets: Parishes (governance and- services 231,609 offices) Tribunal 231,609 Without donor restrictions Cathedral 315,003 Priest315,003 health and retirement Diaconate program 18,334 18,334 With donor restrictions Catholic schools office Promotion of vocations 358,549 358,549 Diocesan newspaper233,014 Other income 453,356 686,370 Net assets released from restrictions: Tribunal Total net assets Satisfaction of program restrictions 5,201,853 (5,201,853) Cathedral

Net assets at beginning of year

6,052,863

15,001,268

21,054,131

Use of funds $9,915,587 Use of funds $9,915,587

Source of funds $13,632,689 Source of funds $13,632,689 Grants $1,436,372 10% Grants $1,436,372 10%

Parish assessments $4,071,817

30% Parish assessments $4,071,817 30%

Investment Income/Gain $2,309,323 17% Investment Income/Gain $2,309,323 17%

Promotion of vocations $945,901 9%of vocations Promotion $945,901 9% Cathedral $315,004 3% Cathedral

Communications DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE $559,406 CHANCERY OFFICE 6% Communications $559,406 6% Diaconate formation STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES $75,987 1% formation Diaconate

$315,004 3% Education $1,070,188 11% Education $1,070,188 Revenues, gains 11%

$75,987

FOR THE 1% YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020 Without Donor Restrictions

Diocesan governance/ administration $2,670,851 Diocesan governance/ 27% administration $2,670,851 27%

and other support: Bishop's appeal $ 982,010 $ Contributions and bequests 44,470 Capital campaign Grants 90,000 Service fees and revenues 103,403 Interest income - deposit and loan 864,708 Investment income 54,981 Net gain/(loss) - investments 10,656 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2) Net gain/(loss) on disposal of equipment (279,802) Assessments: Parishes (governance and services offices) 1,590,716 Contributions/bequests $417,957 Priest health and retirement Catholic Charities Other income/service fees 3% grant Bishop's Appeal and net gain on sales Catholic schools office 114,800 Religious personnel Deposit/loan fund Contributions/bequests $500,000 4 $2,964,192 Capital Campaign $1,850,233 development/care interest income DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Diocesan newspaper 516,724 Deposit/loan fund 5% $417,957OF DIOCESE KNOXVILLE 22% expense 14% $1,478,044 $582,795 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Catholic Charities Other income/service fees interest expense 3% $189,915 15% Tribunal 236,020 4% CHANCERY OFFICE grant CHANCERY OFFICE Bishop's Appeal and net gain on sales CHANCERY OFFICE Religious personnel Deposit/loan fund $673,382 2% CHANCERY OFFICE $500,000 Cathedral 311,947 $2,964,192 Capital Campaign $1,850,233 7% development/care interest income Deposit/loan fund 5% 22% expense 14% $1,478,044 $582,795 Diaconate program 30,701 STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES interest expense STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES $189,915 15% 4% STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES $673,382 Promotion of vocations 138,089 2% 7% STATEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES Other income 409,656 FOR THE YEAR ENDED FOR THE YEAR ENDED Net assets released from restrictions: FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2020 JUNE 30, 2020 Satisfaction of program restrictions 4,572,110 Without Donor Restrictions

JUNE 30, 2020 FOR THE YEAR ENDED With Donor JUNE 30, 2020 Total revenues, gains and other support

Restrictions

Total

Without Donor 9,791,189 Restrictions

With Donor Restrictions

Total

1,889,761 301,487 127,092 588,731 213,739 252,108 (262,644) Pastoral $1,436,909 14% -

Pastoral 1,121,190 $1,436,909 4 14% 225,325

$

2,871,771 345,957 127,092 678,731 103,403 864,708 268,720 262,764 (262,644) (279,802) 1,590,716 1,121,190 4114,800 516,724 236,020 311,947 30,701 138,089 634,981

(4,572,110)

-

With(115,321) Donor Restrictions

9,675,868 Total

Without Donor With Donor Revenues, gains and other support: Revenues, gains and other support: Expenses: Restrictions Restrictions Bishop's appeal $ 982,010 $ 1,889,761 $ 2,871,771 Total Bishop's appeal $ 982,010 $ 1,889,761 $ 2,871,771 Program services: Contributions and bequests 301,487 345,957 Without Donor Contributions and bequestsWith Donor 44,470 301,487345,957 Pastoral 1,443,324 1,443,324 Revenues, gains44,470 and other support: Capital campaign 127,092 127,092 Religious personnel development Capital campaign 127,092 127,092 and care 1,515,729 1,515,729 Bishop's appeal $ 982,010 $ Restrictions 1,889,761 $ 2,871,771 Restrictions Total Grants 90,000 588,731 678,731 Property Donated to parish 213,396 213,396 Grants 90,000 588,731678,731 Contributions and bequests 44,470 301,487 345,957 Service fees and revenuesRevenues, gains 103,403 103,403 and other support: Diaconate 78,770 78,770 Service fees andformation revenues 103,403 103,403 Capital campaign 127,092 127,092 Interest income - deposit and loan 864,708 864,708 Education 935,353 935,353 Interest income --deposit$and loan 864,708 864,708 Bishop's appeal $ 982,010 1,889,761 $ 2,871,771 Investment income 54,981 213,739 268,720 Cathedral 312,000 312,000 Grants 90,000 588,731 678,731 Investment income 54,981 213,739268,720 Net gain/(loss) - investments Contributions and bequests 10,656 262,764 44,470 301,487 345,957 Catholic Charities 500,000 500,000 Net gain/(loss) - investments 10,656 252,108262,764 Service fees and revenues 252,108 103,403 103,403 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2) (262,644) (262,644) Communications 541,526 541,526 Unrealized gain/(loss) (Note (262,644) (262,644) - - investments 127,092 127,092 Interest income - deposit and loan864,708 - 2) 864,708 Net gain/(loss) on disposal of Capital equipment campaign (279,802) (279,802) Promotion on of vocations 753,457 753,457 Net gain/(loss) disposal of equipment (279,802) -(279,802) 54,981 213,739 268,720 Assessments: Grants Investment income 588,731 678,731 Interest90,000 expense and bank service charges 912,818 912,818 Assessments: Parishes (governance and services offices)Net gain/(loss) 1,590,716 1,590,716 - investments 10,656 252,108 262,764 General administration 2,380,727 2,380,727 Parishes (governance and services offices)1,590,716 -1,590,716 Service fees and revenues 103,403 103,403 Priest health and retirement 1,121,190 1,121,190 Capital campaign 136,728 136,728 Unrealized gain/(loss) - investments (Note 2) - expenses (262,644) Priest health and retirement(262,644) 1,121,1901,121,190 Catholic schools office 114,800and loan 114,800 Interest income - deposit 864,708 864,708 Development and planning 461,048 461,048 Catholic schools office 114,800 114,800 Net gain/(loss) on disposal of equipment (279,802) (279,802) Diocesan newspaper 516,724 516,724 Investment income 54,981 213,739 268,720 Diocesan newspaper 516,724 516,724 Assessments: Tribunal 236,020 236,020 5 Total expenses 10,184,876 10,184,876 Tribunal 236,020 -236,020 Cathedral 311,947 311,947OF KNOXVILLE Net gain/(loss) - investments 10,656 252,108 262,764 DIOCESE Parishes (governance and services offices) 1,590,716 1,590,716 Cathedral 311,947 311,947 Diaconate program 30,701 30,701 CHANCERY OFFICE Change in net assets (393,687) (115,321) (509,008) Priest health-and retirement (Note 2) -1,121,190 Unrealized gain/(loss) investments (262,644) 1,121,190 (262,644) Diaconate program 30,701 30,701 Promotion of vocations 138,089 138,089 Catholic schools office 114,800 114,800 Promotion of vocations 138,089 138,089 Other income 409,656 of equipment 225,325 634,981 Net gain/(loss) on disposal (279,802) (279,802) Net assets at beginning of year 6,446,550 15,116,589 21,563,139 STATEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES 5 Other income 409,656 225,325 634,981 newspaper 516,724 516,724 Net assets released from restrictions: 5 Assessments:Diocesan Net assets released from restrictions: Satisfaction of program restrictions 4,572,110 (4,572,110) Tribunal 236,020 Net assets236,020 at end of year $ 6,052,863 $ 15,001,268 $ 21,054,131 DIOCESE KNOXVILLE FOR THEOF YEAR ENDED Satisfaction of program restrictions 4,572,110 Parishes (governance and services offices) 1,590,716 1,590,716 (4,572,110) Cathedral 311,947 - 311,947 CHANCERY OFFICE Total revenues, gains and other support 9,791,189 (115,321) 9,675,868 JUNE 30, 2021 Priest health and retirement 1,121,190 1,121,190 The accompanying notes- are an integral30,701 part of these financial statements.

Diaconate program 30,701 Total revenues, gains and other support 9,791,189 (115,321) 9,675,868 Promotion of vocations 138,089 138,089 Catholic schools office 114,800 114,800 Expenses: STATEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES Program services: Expenses: 516,724 Other income 409,656 225,325 634,981 Diocesan newspaper 516,724 Pastoral 1,443,324 1,443,324 Program services: Net assets released from restrictions: Tribunal 236,020 236,020 FOR THE YEARPastoral ENDED Religious personnel development and care 1,515,729 1,515,729 1,443,324 1,443,324 Satisfaction of program restrictions 4,572,110 (4,572,110) Property Donated to parish 213,396 213,396 Religious personnel development and care1,515,729 1,515,729 JUNE 30, 2021 Cathedral 311,947 311,947 Diaconate formation 78,770 78,770 Property Donated to parish 213,396 213,396 Diaconate program 30,701 30,701 Education 935,353 935,353 Total revenues, gains and other support 9,791,189 (115,321) 9,675,868 Diaconate formation 78,770 78,770 Cathedral 312,000 312,000 Interest Fundraising, Education 935,353 935,353 Promotion of vocations 138,089 138,089 Catholic Charities 500,000 - Program 500,000 General Development Cathedral Expense and 312,000 312,000 Expenses: Other income 409,656 225,325 634,981 Communications 541,526 Catholic Charities 500,000 500,000 Services541,526 Administrative Bank Charges and Planning 2021 Totals Promotion of vocations Net assets Program 753,457 753,457 releasedservices: from restrictions: Communications 541,526 541,526 Interest expense and bank service charges 912,818 Pastoral 912,818 1,443,324 1,443,324 Promotion of$ vocations 753,457 753,457 Program grants provided $ 1,759,403 $ $ $ 1,759,403 Satisfaction of program 4,572,110 (4,572,110) General administration 2,380,727 restrictions2,380,727 personnel development and care 1,515,729 - 194,9601,515,729 Interest expense and bank service 912,818 912,818 Salaries andReligious wages 136,728 791,273 710,243 - charges 1,696,476 Capital campaign expenses 136,728 General administration 2,380,727 2,380,727 Property Donated to parish 213,396 213,396 Priest and religious wages / stipends 278,274 66,477 344,751 Development and planning 461,048 461,048 Interest (115,321) Capital campaign 136,728 136,728 Total revenues, gains and other support 9,791,189 9,675,868 Diaconate 78,770 expenses - Fundraising, Other employee benefitsformation 389,912 317,018 75,706 78,770 782,636 Development and planning 461,048 461,048 General Expense and Development Total expenses 10,184,876 - Program 10,184,876

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE CHANCERY OFFICE

STATEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2021

Education 935,353 Priest benefits 1,363,898 - 935,353 1,363,898 Services Bank Charges and Planning 2021 Totals Payroll taxesCathedral 56,429 Administrative 64,079 14,522 135,030 312,000 312,000 Total expenses 10,184,876 10,184,876 Expenses: Change in net assets (393,687) (115,321) (509,008) Travel 32,998 21,789 102 54,889 Catholic Charities 500,000 500,000 Interest Fundraising, Program services: Public relations 31,082 51,264 - - -$ 416 Program grants provided $ 1,759,403 - $ - (393,687) $82,762 1,759,403 assets (115,321) (509,008) Communications 541,526 541,526 Net assets at beginning of year 6,446,550 15,116,589 21,563,139 $ Change in net Program supplies 19,639 5,887 559 26,085 Pastoral 1,443,324 1,443,324 Salaries and wages 791,273 710,243 194,960 1,696,476 Program General Expense and Development Promotion of vocations 753,457 753,457 Telephone 16,755 29,385 600 46,740344,751 at beginning of year - 15,116,589 21,563,139 Net assets at end of year $ 6,052,863 $ 15,001,268 $care 21,054,131 Net assets Priest Religious and religious wages / stipends 278,274 66,477 -6,446,550 personnel development and 1,515,729 1,515,729 Interest expense and bank service charges 912,818 Bank Charges - - and912,818 Services Administrative Planning 2021 Totals Occupancy and rental facilities 116,041 84,125 19,158 219,324 Other employee benefits 389,912 317,018 - - - 75,706 782,636 General administration 2,380,727 Property Donated tothese parish 213,396 213,396 Net assets at end of year $ 6,052,863 Stipends 3,000 -2,380,727 79,125 $ 15,001,268 $ 21,054,131 The accompanying notes are an integral part of financial statements. 76,125 Priest benefits 1,363,898 1,363,898 Capital campaign expenses 136,728 136,728 Purchased professional services 71,451 96,811 14,853 183,115 Diaconate formation 78,770 78,770 Program grants provided $ 1,759,403 - accompanying $ - an- integral $14,522 $ statements.

1,759,403 Payroll Information taxes Development 56,429 64,079 - -are 135,030 The part of107,394 these-financial 461,048 technology and planning 17,210$ 90,184 - notes - 461,048 Education 935,353 935,35354,889 Travel 32,998 21,789 102 Printing and copying 129,606 15,820 1,995 147,421 Salaries and wages 791,273 710,243 194,960 1,696,476 312,000 - 10,184,876 PublicCathedral relations 31,082 51,264 Tuition, room and board 691,140 29,349 - - - 416 312,000 720,489 82,762 Total expenses 10,184,876 Priest and religious wages / stipends 278,274 66,477 344,751 Postage andCharities shipping 20,419 13,684 - 34,986 26,085 Program supplies 19,639 5,887 Catholic 500,000 - 883 559 500,000 6 Property taxes in andnet insurance 15,207 61,637 - 76,844 46,740 Other employee benefits 389,912 317,018 - - - (509,008) 782,636 Telephone 16,755 29,385 600 75,706 Change assets (393,687) (115,321) Communications 541,526 541,526 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Maintenance and utilities 187,694 114,726 302,420 and rental 116,041 84,125 Priest benefits Occupancy 1,363,898 - - 53119,158 753,457 -219,324 1,363,898 CHANCERY OFFICE Promotion of facilities vocations 753,457 Office supplies 12,269 49,772 62,572 Stipends 76,125 3,000 79,125 Net assets at beginning of year 6,446,550 15,116,589 21,563,139 Payroll taxes 56,429167,988 64,079 - 21,287 135,030 Accounting, legaland and bank 185,069 3,474 377,818 Interest expense bankfees service charges 912,818 - 14,853 14,522 912,818 Purchased professional services 71,451 96,811 183,115 STATEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES Interest expense 669,908 669,908 Travel 32,998 - -$ 21,054,131 102 54,889 GeneralNet administration 2,380,727 Information technology 17,21090,184 - 2,380,727 assets expense at end of year $ 21,789 6,052,863 $ 15,001,268 Bishop's Appeal - 189,377 189,377107,394 Capital campaign expenses 136,728 136,728 Public relations PrintingConferences 31,082 416147,421 6 82,762 and copying 129,606 15,820 FOR THE YEAR51,264 ENDED given and attended 52,101 5,812 - -1,995 57,913 JUNE 2020 DIOCESE OF30, KNOXVILLE room and board 691,140 29,349 Miscellaneous expenses 84,525 14,644 - statements.

99,280 Development and planning 461,048 The accompanying19,639 notes are an integral part of these financial Program suppliesTuition, 5,887 - - 111 - 461,048 559720,489 26,085 294,931 - - 883 294,931 34,986 CHANCERY OFFICE PostageDepreciation and shipping 20,419 13,684

Telephone 16,755 29,385 600 76,844 Property taxes and insurance 15,207 61,637 Total expenses 10,184,876 10,184,876 Total $ 6,381,439 $ 2,325,706 $ 673,382 -$ - 535,060 $ - 19,158 9,915,587302,420 Occupancy and rental facilities 116,041 84,125 STATEMENTS OF FUNCTIONAL Maintenance and expenses utilities 187,694 114,726 EXPENSES Office supplies 12,269 49,772 531 Stipends 76,125 3,000 - 62,572 Change in net assets (393,687) (115,321) 21,287 (509,008) Accounting, legal and bank fees 167,988 185,069 3,474 FOR THE YEAR ENDED Purchased professional services 71,451 96,811 14,853377,818 Interest expense 669,908 669,908 JUNE 30, 2020 Information technology 17,210 90,184 -189,377 Bishop's Appeal expense of year - Fundraising, 189,37721,563,139 Interest 15,116,589 Net assets at beginning 6,446,550 Printing and copying 129,606 15,820 Conferences given and attended 52,101 5,812 Expense and - Development - 1,995 57,913 Program General Services Administrative Bank Charges and Planning 2020 Totals- 99,280 Miscellaneous expenses 84,525 14,644 111 Tuition, room andNet board 691,140 assets at end of year $ 29,349 6,052,863 $ 15,001,268 $ 21,054,131 Depreciation 294,931 294,931 Postage and shipping Program grants provided 20,419 13,684 883 $ 1,934,120 $ - $ - $ - $ 1,934,120 Salaries and wages 750,861 681,128 Property taxes and insurance 61,637 The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

Total expenses $15,207 6,381,439 $ 2,325,706 $ financial 673,382 $- 271,880 535,060 1,703,869 $ 9,915,587 Priest and religious wages / stipends 368,118 23,557 391,675 Maintenance and utilities 187,694360,797 114,726 - 91,864 Other employee benefits 307,410 760,070 InterestFundraising, Priest benefits 1,229,504 1,229,504 Office supplies 12,269 49,772 531 General Expense statements. and Development The accompanying Program notes 53,252 are an integral part of these financial Payroll taxes 66,824 18,624 138,700 Accounting, legal and bank fees 167,988 185,069 3,474 21,287 Services Bank Charges and Planning 2020 Totals Travel 50,363 Administrative 28,348 1,843 80,553 Public relations 63,794 696 86,270 Interest expense -21,780 669,908 Program 14,950 $ 5,298- 47 Program grantssupplies provided $ 1,934,120 $- 189,377 $ 20,294 1,934,120 Bishop's Appeal expense -14,779 - $ Telephone 23,097 - 975 38,851 Salaries and wages 750,861 681,128 271,880 1,703,869 Conferences givenPriest andand attended 52,101 5,812 - 19,075 Occupancy andwages rental /facilities 216,475 84,890 - 320,440 religious stipends 368,118 23,557 391,675 Stipends 83,747 3,100 86,847 Miscellaneous expenses 84,525 14,644 111760,070 Other employee benefits 360,797 307,410 91,864 Purchased professional services 106,207 277,286 29,317 412,809 Priest benefits 1,229,504 1,229,504 Depreciation - 3,861 294,931 Information technology 79,018 82,879

TH E

PayrollPrinting taxes and copying 53,252 66,824 18,624 138,700 141,193 15,824 - 3,775 160,792 Travel Tuition, room and board 50,363 28,348 1,843 523,500 49,631 - 573,13180,553 Total expenses $ 6,381,439 2,325,706 $ 673,382 $ 696 535,060 $ Public Postage relations 21,780 63,794 and shipping 20,216$ 13,683 - 2,676 36,57586,270 Program supplies 5,298 Property taxes and insurance 15,140 64,611 - 47 79,75120,294 The accompanying notes14,950 are an integral part of these financial- statements.

Maintenance and utilities 65,052 66,062 - - 975 131,11438,851 Telephone 14,779 23,097 Officeand supplies 6,839 12,403 - 1,542 20,784 Occupancy rental facilities 216,475 84,890 19,075 320,440 Accounting, legal and bank fees 172,745 213,686 28,265 21,194 435,89086,847 Stipends 83,747 3,100 Interest expense services 884,554 884,554 Purchased professional 106,207 277,286 29,317 412,809 Bishop's Appeal expense 132,577 132,577 Information technology 3,861 79,018 82,879 Conferences given and attended 41,223 4,317 1,582 47,123 Printing and copying 141,193 15,824 3,775 160,792 Miscellaneous expenses 98,833 14,037 110 112,979 Tuition, room and board 523,500 49,631 573,131 Depreciation 282,723 - - 282,723 Postage and shipping 20,216 13,683 2,676 36,575 Property taxes and insurance 15,140 64,611 $ -$ 10,184,87679,751 Total expenses $ 6,293,554 $ 2,380,727 912,818 - $ 597,776 Maintenance and utilities 65,052 66,062 131,114 Office 6,839 12,403 1,542 20,784 www.di o k no x .o rg EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO Lsupplies IC Accounting, legal and bank fees 172,745 213,686 28,265 21,194 435,890

46,740 219,324 79,125 183,115 107,394 147,421 720,489 34,986 76,844 302,420 62,572 377,818 669,908 189,377 57,913 99,280 294,931

9,915,587

JANUARY 2, 2022 n A21

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 112,814 (79,887) (79, Other assets Other assets 112,814 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 1 Increase (decrease)- in liabilities Increase (decrease) in liabilities 2,514,087 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE STATEMENTSAccounts OF CASH FLOWS Accounts payable 23,546 105, payable 23,546 105,269 30, 2021 and 2020 FOR THE YEARSJune ENDED CHANCERY OFFICE Medical Medical claims reserveclaims reserve 2,082,423 2,082,423 2,130,065 2,130, JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 Deferred revenues (58,500) 47,500 47, Deferred revenues (58,500) (5,049,507) FOR THE YEARS ENDED Custodial accounts (2,930) (4,320) (4, Custodial accounts (2,930) NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4,844,759 JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) 1. Summary 849,978 2021 Net cash provided (used) activities by operating activities 2,649,650 2,514,087 2,514, Net cash 2020 provided (used) by operating 2,649,650 2021 2020 2020 June 30, 2021 and 2020 (65,263) e.

Land, Buildings and Equipment 239,396 Cash flows activities: from investing activities: Cash flows from investing activities: Cash flows from operating Purchases of investments (5,354,225) (5,049, Purchases (5,354,225) (5,049,507) $ $ 3,717,102 $investments (509,008) Change in netofassets 3,717,102 (509,008) (509,008) Land, buildings and equipment are stated in the accompanying statement of $financial position a 2021(Continued) 2020 $ 5,424,289 819,363Proceeds 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies from sale of investments 5,424,289 fromProceeds sale of investments 4,844,759 4,844, market value at the date of the gift if acquired by donation.

Depreciation is computed using the Repayments from (loansand to) institutions, parishes andnet institutions, net 849, Repayments from (loans to) parishes 5,915,792 5,915,792 849,978 Adjustments to net reconcile change in net assets to Adjustments change in net assets to useful nts to reconcile change in assets to e.to reconcile Land, Buildings and Equipment method over the expected life of the asset. m financing activities: Cash payments for the purchase of property (56,828) (65, Cash payments for the purchase of property (56,828) (65,263) net cash provided activities: (used) by operating activities: Cash flows from operating activities: net cash provided (used) by operating activities: rovided (used) by operating m borrowings on long-term loans 9,310,683Proceeds fromProceeds fromofdisposition of assets - 239,396 239, disposition assets (gain) loss on investments (925,896) (262,764) Realized (gain) loss on investments (262,764) ed (gain) lossRealized on investments (925,896) (262,764) Change in net assets $ are 3,717,102 $ (509,008) Land, buildings andInvestment equipment stated in the Policies accompanying statement of(925,896) financial position at cost or fair m borrowings held for other diocesan entities (6,421,570) 6,421,570 f. Endowment and Spending Unrealized (gain) loss on investments (2,309,323) 262,644 Unrealized (gain) loss on investments (2,309,323) 262,644 ized (gain) loss on investments (2,309,323) 262,644 market value at the date of the gift if acquired by donation.

Depreciation is computed using the straight-line ments) on line of credit (5,000,000) Net cash provided (used)activities by investing activities 819, Net cash provided (used) by investing 5,929,028 5,929,028 819,363 Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment - (gain) loss 279,802 Net on disposal of expected equipment 279,802 method over the useful life of the asset. ain) loss on disposal of equipment 279,802 of long-term loans (1,621,763) Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to (461,792) The Diocese follows the provisions of FASB ASC 958-205. This standard provides282,723 guidance on Depreciation and amortization 294,931 282,723 Depreciation and amortization 294,931 iation and amortization 294,931 282,723 Cash flows from financing Cash flows from financing activities: m parishes and institutions, net 9,282,264 2,534,748 classification of activities: donor-restricted endowment funds for a not-for-profit organization that is subject f. decrease Endowment Investment and Spending Policies (Increase) in assets -long-term se) decrease (Increase) in assets - decrease in assets -net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Proceeds fromonborrowings on long-term loans Proceeds from borrowings loans 9,310,683 9,310, version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act of 2006 -(UPMIFA).

FAS Accounts receivable (427,340) 51,052 6,421, ounts receivableAccounts receivable (427,340) 51,052 (427,340) 51,052 Realized (gain) loss on investments (925,896) (262,764) Proceeds fromheld borrowings held for other diocesan entities (6,421,570)6,421,570 borrowings for other diocesan entities (6,421,570) cash provided (used) by financing activities 1,238,931 12,805,209Proceeds from The Diocese follows the provisions of FASB ASC 958-205.

This standard provides guidance on the 190,817 net asset 205 also improves disclosures about an organization's endowment funds whether or not the or Unconditional promises to give 138,055 onditional promises to give 138,055 190,817 Unconditional promises to give 138,055 190,817 Draws (repayments) on line of credit -(5,000,000) Draws (repayments) on lineofofdonor-restricted credit - is subject to Unrealized (gain) loss on investments (2,309,323) 262,644 classification endowment funds for a not-for-profit organization that an 20,194 enacted (5,000, subject tolong-term UPMIFA. Interest receivable 4,768 rest receivable Interest receivable 4,768 20,194 4,768 20,194 Repayments of loans (1,621,763) (461, Repayments of long-term loans (1,621,763) (461,792) crease) in cash and cash equivalents 9,817,609 16,138,659 version of the Uniform Prudent Management -of Institutional Funds279,802 Act of 2006 (UPMIFA). FASB ASC 958Net (gain) loss on disposal of 112,814 equipment Other assets 112,814 9,282,264 2,534,748 (79,887) er assets (79,887) Other assets 112,814 (79,887) Deposits from parishes andnet institutions, netorganization's endowment funds whether Deposits from205 parishes and institutions, 9,282,264 also improves disclosures about an or not the organization is 2,534, Depreciation and amortization 294,931 282,723 Increase (decrease)The in liabilities - Tennessee has e (decrease) Increase in liabilities State of adopted UPMIFA and the Diocese has determined that its net as (decrease) in liabilities subject to UPMIFA. quivalents at beginning of year 19,172,962 3,034,303 payable 23,546 105,269 ounts payable Accounts payable 105,269 restricted by a financing donor resources be maintained in perpetuity meet1,238,931 the definition of 12,805, endow Net cash provided (used)that by financing activities Net cash provided (used) by activities 1,238,931 12,805,209 23,546Accounts 105,269 (Increase) decrease in assets - 23,546 Medical claims reserve 2,082,423 2,130,065 dical claims reserve 2,082,423 2,130,065 UPMIFA. Medical claims reserve 2,082,423 2,130,065 The State of Tennessee has adopted UPMIFA and the Diocese has determined that its net assets that are $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 quivalents at end of year Accounts receivable (427,340) 51,052 Deferred revenues (58,500) 47,500 erred revenues Deferred revenues (58,500) 47,500 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in cash cash equivalents 9,817,609 16,138,659 restricted by aand donor that resources be maintained in perpetuity meet the definition 9,817,609 of endowment under16,138, (58,500) 47,500 Unconditional promises to give 138,055 190,817 (2,930) Custodial UPMIFA. accounts todial accounts Custodial accounts (2,930) (4,320) (2,930) (4,320) The Diocese has adopted investment and spending policies for endowment net assets(4,320) that attempt and cashatequivalents at year beginning of year 19,172,962 3,034,303 3,034, Interest receivable Cash and cashCash equivalents beginning of predictable stream of funding4,768 to programs supported 20,194 by its19,172,962 endowment funds while seeking to 9 The Diocese has adopted investment and spending policies for endowment net assets that attempt to2,514,087 provide a provided (used) by operating activities 2,649,650 Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 2,649,650 2,514,087 Net cash 9 Other assets 112,814 (79,887) Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 2,649,650 2,514,087 9 purchasing power of the endowment net assets.

The Diocese's spending and investment policies w sclosure of cash flow information: $ seeking 28,990,571 $the19,172, and cashatequivalents at end oftoyear $ funds 28,990,571 $to 19,172,962 Cash and cashCash equivalents end of of yearfunding predictable stream programs supported by its endowment while DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 9maintain DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE ring the year for interest $liabilities 669,908 $ 884,554 Increase (decrease) in to achieve this objective.

To achieve the investment goal, the Diocese establishes investment o DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 9 investment policies work together purchasing power of the endowment net assets. The Diocese's spending and Cash flows from investing activities: rom investing activities: CHANCERY OFFICE Cash flows from investing activities: CHANCERY OFFICE strategies of equity,Tofixed income, and cash within risk parameters.

Theobjectives Diocese relies on CHANCERY to achieve this objective. achieve the investment goal, the prudent Diocese establishes investment and Accounts payableOFFICE 23,546 105,269 CHANCERY OFFICE Purchases of investments (5,354,225) (5,049,507) of investments (5,354,225) (5,049,507) DIOCESE Purchases of investments (5,354,225) OF KNOXVILLE (5,049,507) strategy in which investment returns achieved through both capital relies appreciation an strategies of equity, fixed income, and cash withinare prudent risk parameters.

The Diocese on a 4,844,759 total(realized return Proceeds from sale of investments 5,424,289 from sale of investments 5,424,289 4,844,759 Medical claims reserve 2,082,423 2,130,065 NOTES TO part FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CHANCERY OFFICE Proceeds from salenotes of investments 5,424,289 4,844,759 strategy which investment returns are achieved through both capital appreciation (realized and unrealized) accompanying are an integral ofTO these financial statements. andin current yield (interest and dividends).

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: Supplementalfrom disclosure of cash flow information: NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Repayments (loans to) parishes and institutions, net 5,915,792 849,978 nts fromThe (loans to) parishes and institutions, netNOTES 5,915,792 849,978 Deferred revenues (58,500) 47,500 Repayments from (loans to) parishes and institutions, net 5,915,792 849,978 and current yield (interest andinterest dividends).

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Cash paid during year for $ 669,908 $ 884, $ $ 884,554 Cash paid during the year for interest 669,908 Cash payments for the purchase oftheproperty (56,828) (65,263) ments for the purchase of property (56,828) (65,263)

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS cash provided (used) by operating activities 2,649,650 FOR THE YEARS ENDED FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020 m investing activities: investments (5,354,225) m sale of investments 5,424,289 from (loans to) parishes and institutions, net 5,915,792 2021 ts for the purchase of property (56,828) m disposition of assets Cash flows from operating activities: rom operating activities: net assetsChange in net assets $ 3,717,102 cash provided (used) by investing activities 5,929,028

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED JUNE 30, 2021 and 2020

2021

Cash flows from operating activities: Change in net assets

$

2020

3,717,102

$

(509,008)

Adjustments to reconcile change in net assets to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: Realized (gain) loss on investments (925,896) (262,764) Unrealized (gain) loss on investments (2,309,323) 262,644 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Net (gain) loss on disposal of equipment 279,802 CHANCERY OFFICE Depreciation and amortization 294,931 282,723 Cash payments for the purchase of property (56,828) (65,263) Custodial accounts (2,930) (4,320) June 30, 2021 and 2020 (Increase) decrease in assets - 30, The spending policy states the amount to be distributed annually from the Diocese’s various en Proceeds from disposition of assets states 239,396 from disposition of assets NOTES TO 239,396 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS June 30, 2021 and 2020 June 2021 and 2020 The spending the amount to be distributed annually from the Diocese’s- various endowed funds Proceeds from disposition of assets 239,396policy (invested in DIOKNOX).

The Diocese has adopted a 5% annual spending level June 30, 2021 and 2020 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (invested in DIOKNOX). The Diocese has adopted a 5% annual spending level for distributions toforbe distrib (427,340) 51,052 The accompanying are an integral part these financial statements.

Thebased accompanying arethe annotes integral part of value these financial statements. calculated based onnotes the average ofvalue the at thethree end of the calendar three previous calendar ye provided (used)on by investing activities 5,929,028 Net cash providedAccounts (used) by investingreceivable activities 5,929,028 819,363 Net cash Net cash provided (used) by operating activities 2,649,650 2,514,087 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE calculated the average of fair atfair the end of theof previous years.819,363 This is Net cash provided (used) by investing activities 5,929,028 819,363 June 30, 2021consistent andconsistent 2020 with the Diocese's maintain thepower purchasing powerassets of endowment with the Diocese's objective objective to maintaintothe purchasing of endowment as well as toassets CHANCERY OFFICE Unconditional promises to give 138,055 190,817 Cash flows from financing activities: rom financingof activities: . Summary Significant Accounting Policies provide additional real growth gifts and investment provide additional realthrough growthnew through new gifts andreturn. investment return.

1. 1.

Summary offrom Significant Accounting CashPolicies flows from investing activities: Cash flowson activities: June 30, 2021 and 2020 1. borrowings Summary oflong-term Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) Summary offinancing Significant Accounting Policies Proceeds from on loans 9,310,683 from borrowings long-term loans 9,310,683 Interest receivable 4,768 20,194 11 Proceeds from on entities long-term loansof investments - from 9,310,683 NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS6,421,570 Purchases (5,354,225) (5,049,507) a. borrowings Basis of Presentation g. borrowings Federal Income Taxes Proceeds heldIncome for otherTaxes diocesan entities (6,421,570) from held for borrowings other diocesan (6,421,570) 6,421,570 g. 6,421,570 Federal a. Proceeds Basis offrom Presentation DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE borrowings held for other diocesan entities (6,421,570) DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Draws (repayments) line of credit (5,000,000) payments) on of credit (5,000,000) a. line Basis of Presentation e. on Land, Buildings and Equipment Proceeds from sale of investments 5,424,289 4,844,759 Other assets 112,814 (79,887) OFFICE Draws (repayments) credit - East of long-term The(5,000,000) Diocese is exempt from federal incomeCHANCERY taxes under provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal(461,792) Revenue The geographical areaonofline theofDiocese of Knoxville (unincorporated) comprisesPolicies the 36 counties of CHANCERY OFFICE Repayments loans (1,621,763) nts of long-term loans (1,621,763) (461,792) 1.

Summary of Significant Accounting June 30, 2021 and 2020 Repayments from (loans to) parishes and institutions, net 5,915,792 849,978 The Diocese is exempt from federal income taxes under provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Inte The geographical area of the Diocese of Knoxville (unincorporated) comprises the 36 counties of East Code; accordingly, no provision for income taxes has been made in the accompanying financial statements.

Repayments of long-term loans (1,621,763) (461,792) Tennessee.

Legal title to all church property in the Diocese is held in the name of “N. N., Bishop of the Deposits from parishes and institutions, net 9,282,264 2,534,748 rom parishes and institutions, net 9,282,264 2,534,748 The geographical area of the Diocese of Knoxville (unincorporated) comprises the 36 counties of East Increase (decrease) inand liabilities - is held Land, buildings andnoequipment areincome stated taxes in thehas accompanying of financial position Tennessee.

Legal title toKnoxville all Cash church property infor thein Diocese inproperty the name of “N. N., Bishop of the 2,534,748 Code; accordingly, provision for been made instatement the accompanying financial sta payments the purchase of (56,828) (65,263) Roman Catholic Diocese of Successors Office”.

In addition to having jurisdiction over NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Deposits from parishes and institutions, net 9,282,264 Tennessee.

Legal title to alla.church in intheOffice”.

DioceseInis addition held in to thehaving name jurisdiction of “N. N., over Bishop market of the value at the date NOTES TO of of theFASB giftFINANCIAL ifASC acquired bySTATEMENTS donation. is computed using th Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville and property Successors Basis ofdisposition Presentation The Diocese follows the provisions 740-10-25.

Under thisDepreciation standard, an organization must parishes and missions, the Diocese also operates a number of other institutions, including high schools, Proceeds from of assets 239,396 Net cash provided bythe financing activities 1,238,931 12,805,209 Net cash provided (used) financing activities 1,238,931 12,805,209 Accounts payable 23,546 105,269 Roman Catholic Diocese of Knoxville and Successors Office”.

In addition to having jurisdiction over(used) parishes andby missions, the Diocese also operates a number ofinother institutions, including high schools, method over expected useful lifetaken ofofthe asset. tax benefit associated with tax for tax return purposes when itUnder is morethis likely than not the 1.

Summary of by Significant Accounting Policies The that Diocese follows the provisions FASB ASC2020 740-10-25. standard, an organ cemeteries, etc.

1.recognize Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) Net cash provided (used) financing activities 1,238,931 12,805,209 June 30, 2021 and parishes schools, June 30, 2021 and has 2020 cemeteries, etc.and missions, the Diocese also operates a number of other institutions, including high position will be sustained.

The implementation of this standard had no impact on the Diocese’s financial recognize that tax benefit associated with tax taken for tax return purposes when it is more likely The geographical area of the Diocese of Knoxville (unincorporated) comprises the 36 counties of East Medical claims reserve 2,082,423 2,130,065 Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 9,817,609 16,138,659 (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 9,817,609 16,138,659 cemeteries, etc. statements.

Thewill Diocese does notand believe there arePolicies any material uncertain tax positions and,noaccordingly, willDioce Net provided (used)with byaccounting investingprinciples activities 5,929,028 819,363 f. 16,138,659 Endowment Investment Spending Theincrease accompanying financial statements haveTennessee. beencash prepared in accordance generally position be sustained.

The implementation of this standard has had impact onit the h.

Functional Allocation Expenses Net (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 9,817,609 Legal title to all church property in the Diocese is held in the name of “N. N., Bishop of the The accompanying statements have prepared in accordance with accounting generally any liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, there accepted in the a.

Unitedfinancial States of and been the standards adopted by the United States principles Conference of not recognize Basis ofAmerica Presentation Deferred (58,500) 47,500 statements.

The Diocese not(Continued) believe there are statements. any material uncertain tax positions and, accor CashSuccessors and principles cash1. equivalents beginning ofAccounting year 19,172,962 3,034,303 h equivalents at The beginning year revenues 19,172,962 3,034,303 Summary of Significant Policies Roman Catholic Diocese of and in Office”.

In addition to does having jurisdiction over accompanying financial have been prepared inmaintained accordance with accounting generally accepted in theof United States of statements America and the standards adopted

by Knoxville the by United States Conference of were no at interest or penalties recorded or included in its financial 1.

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) Catholic Bishops.

Such financial statements include only the accounts and directly under the The Diocese follows the provisions ofprograms FASBtax ASC 958-205.

This standard provides guidance not recognize any liability for unrecognized benefits.

For the years ended June 30, 2021summ ano Cash flows from financing activities: CashCatholic andaccepted cashBishops. equivalents at beginning of year 19,172,962 3,034,303 The cost of providing the various and other activities of the Diocese has been Such financial statements include only the accounts maintained by and directly under the in the United States of America and the standards adopted by the United States Conference of parishes missions, alsoproperties operates a number of other institutions, including high schools, Governance and Services Offices of the Diocese of Knoxville (GSO). the The Diocese accounts and of the Custodial accounts (2,930) (4,320) classification of donor-restricted endowment funds for a not-for-profit organization that is subjec h.

Functional Allocation of Expenses were no interest or penalties recorded or included in its financial statements. $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 h equivalents at end of year functional basis in the statement of activities.

Accordingly, certain costs have been allocated Governance ServicesSuch Offices of thecemeteries, Diocese ofinclude Knoxville The accounts and properties of theh.under Functional Catholicand Bishops. financial statements the accounts maintained by and directly the Allocation of Expenses Proceeds from borrowings on(GSO). long-term loans 9,310,683 etc. only

parishes, missions, schools, cemeteries, and certain area auxiliaryof enterprises, each of which maintains its own (unincorporated) comprises the 36 counties of East The geographical the Diocese of Knoxville version of theand Uniform Prudent Management Funds Act of 2006 (UPMIFA). FA $ accounts 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 Cash andGovernance cash equivalents atServices end year programs supporting services benefited. of Institutional parishes, schools, cemeteries, and certain auxiliary enterprises, each ofThe which maintains and Offices interfund of the Diocese ofand Knoxville and properties of cost the accounts, are missions, not included.

Allof significant balances transactions have been eliminated to its theown Proceeds from borrowings held for (GSO). other diocesan entities (6,421,570) 6,421,570 The of providing the various programs and other activities of Diocese has been summarized summarized onnot The cost of providing the various programs and other activities of the the Diocese been aa the o 205 also improves disclosures about an organization's endowment funds whether oron accounts, are not included.

All significant interfund balances and transactions have been eliminated to the Tennessee.

Legal title to all church property in the Diocese is held in the name of “N. N., Bishop of thehas parishes, missions, schools, cemeteries, and certain auxiliary enterprises, each of which maintains its own extent the respective funds are combined in(repayments) one fund for purposes offinancial thiscredit presentation. basis in statement Accordingly, certain costs have have been been allocated allocated among among the the The accompanying statements have been prepared infunctional accordance with principles generally Draws on line of (5,000,000) functional basis in the the accounting statement of of activities. activities.

Accordingly, certain costs extent the respective funds are combined in one fund for purposes of this presentation. subject to UPMIFA. i.

Donated Services accounts, are not included.Catholic All significant interfundof balances and transactions have been eliminated to the and supporting services benefited.

Roman Knoxville and Successors in programs Office”. to having jurisdiction programs services benefited. accepted in fund the United States of presentation.

America and the standards byIntheaddition United States Conference of(461,792) over Repayments ofDiocese long-term loans (1,621,763) Supplemental disclosure ofadopted cash and flowsupporting information: l disclosure of cash flowthe information: extent respective funds are restrictions combined in one of this To ensure observance of limitations and placed on thefor usepurposes of resources available to the Diocese, the observance ofcash limitations and placed on the use of resources available to884,554 the Diocese, the Catholic Bishops. financial statements include only the accounts maintained and directly under the Cash paid during year for interest $schools, 669,908 884,554 duringSupplemental the To yearensure for $Such 669,908 $operates and missions, Diocese also number of other institutions, including high The State of Tennessee has adopted and the Diocese has determined that its netas No amounts have beenby reflected in theUPMIFA accompanying financial statements for$donated services Deposits from parishes and institutions, netaccounting.

9,282,264 2,534,748 accounts of interest the Dioceseparishes maintained in restrictions accordance with the the principles of fund This isathe i.i. the Donated Services disclosure ofare flow information: Donated Services accounts of theobservance Diocese are maintained inand accordance with the principles fund This isKnoxville the Governance and Services of $accounting. thenetDiocese ofare (GSO).

The accounts and of services. the in perpetuity meet the definition of end procedure which resources for various purposes are classified according toOffices twoofof classes of assets that basis is by available to measure theproperties valuebeof maintained such Cash paid during the year for interest 669,908 $ 884,554 Tobyensure of limitations restrictions placed on the use resources available to the Diocese, the restricted a donor that resources cemeteries, etc. procedure byexistence which resources for various purposesonare according toitstwo classes ofassets net assets that are No amounts have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements for donated services as no objective based upon the or absence restrictions useclassified that areschools, placed donors: without amounts have been reflected in the accompanying financial statements for donated services as no objective accounts of the Diocese areofmaintained in accordance with thebyprinciples ofnet fund accounting.

ThisNo isenterprises, the parishes, missions, and certain auxiliary each of which maintains its own UPMIFA. Net cash provided bycemeteries, financing activities 1,238,931 12,805,209 based upon theand existence orwith absence ofrestrictions. restrictions on use that(used) are placed by its donors: net assets without basis is to the value of services. donor assets basis is available available to measure measure the value of such such services.

Theand accompanying notes are an integral part of these Therestrictions accompanying notes are andonor integral part ofpurposes these financial statements. j.

Estimates procedure by net which resources for accounts, various are classified according to two classes of net assets that are are not included. All significant interfund balances transactions have been eliminated to thefinancial statements. donor restrictions and net assets with donor restrictions. based upon the existence or absence ofare restrictions on part use that are combined placed bystatements. its donors: netforassets without The Diocese has adopted investment and principles spending policies for endowment net assets that attem The accompanying financial statements have prepared in accordance with accounting generally The accompanying notes an integral of these financial extent the respective funds are inbeen one fund purposes of this presentation.

Estimates restrictions, netcash assetsequivalents for an operating reserve. Net j.j. Estimates The Diocese designated,and from assets without donor Net increase (decrease) in cash and 9,817,609 16,138,659 donorhas restrictions netnet assets with donor restrictions.

The preparation of funding financial insupported conformity accounting principles generally predictable stream of tostatements programs bywith its endowment funds while seekingacc t Thewith Diocese designated, net assets without donor restrictions,Some net America assets for an operating reserve.

Net assets donorhas restrictions arefrom subject to donor-imposed restrictions. donor-imposed restrictions are accepted in the United States of and the standards adopted by the United States Conference ofandgenerally United States ofofAmerica requires management toaccounting make estimates assumptions that cer The preparation of financial statements in conformity with principles accepted in affect the assets with donor restrictions are subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

Some donor-imposed restrictions are purchasing power the endowment net assets.

The Diocese's spending and investment policies The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the To ensure observance of limitations and restrictions placed on the use of resources available to the Diocese, the temporary in nature, such as those that will be met by the passage of time or other events specified by the The Diocese has designated, from net assets without donor restrictions, net assets for an operating reserve.

Net amounts and disclosures.

Accordingly, actual results could differ from estimates.

United States America requires management to make estimates and assumptions thatthose affect certain reported reported Catholic Bishops.

Such financial statements include only the accounts maintained by and directly under temporary in nature, such as those that will be met theat passage time or other events specified by the States of of America requires management to make and assumptions that affect certain to this objective.

To achieve the investment goal, the the Diocese establishes investment Cash and cash equivalents beginning of year 19,172,962 3,034,303 donor.

Other donor-imposed restrictions are perpetual inbynature, such asofthose that the donor that accounts of the Diocese are maintained instipulates accordance withUnited theachieve of fund accounting.

This isestimates the and Accordingly, actual results could differ from estimates. assets with donor restrictions are subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

Some areprinciples amounts and disclosures. disclosures.

Accordingly, actual results could differ from those those estimates. donor. donor-imposed restrictions are perpetual in nature, such as those that thedonor-imposed donor stipulatesrestrictions that amounts strategies of equity, fixed income, and cash within prudent risk parameters.

The Diocese relies o resources beOther maintained in perpetuity.

Governance and Services Offices of the Diocese of Knoxville (GSO).

The accounts and properties of the procedure by met which resources purposes classified according to two classes of net assets that are temporary in nature, such as those that will be by the passagefor of various time or other eventsare specified by the resources be maintained in perpetuity. strategy in which investment returns are achieved through both capital appreciation (realized a $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year based upon the existence or absence of restrictions on use that are placed by its donors: net assets without donor.

Other donor-imposed restrictions are perpetual in nature, such as those that the donor stipulates that parishes, missions, schools, cemeteries, certain auxiliary enterprises, each of which maintains its own 2. Investments and Fair Value Measurement to support operations andand not subject to donor Net assets without donor restrictions are resources available and current and dividends).

2. and Value Measurement 2. Investments Investments and Fair Fairyield Value(interest Measurement resources be maintained in use perpetuity.

Net assets without donor on restrictions resources available to restrictions support operations and not subject to donor donor restrictions and net assets donor restrictions. restrictions.

The only limits the ofare net assets without donor arewith the broad limits resulting accounts, are not included.

All significant interfund balances and transactions have been eliminated to theare invested with professiona restrictions. only limits on use of net in assets without donor restrictions the broad resulting The Diocesan investments are comprised of all fourof parts, all of whichwith from the nature The of the Diocese, thethe environment which it operates, the purposesarespecified bylimits governing The investments are comprised of four which invested professional investment The Diocesan Diocesan investments are states comprised ofamount four parts, parts, all of which are are annually invested with professional investment The spending policy the to be distributed from the Diocese’s various e from the nature of the Diocese, the environment in which it operates, the purposes specified by governing Net assets without donor restrictions are resources available to support operations and not subject to donor extent theandrespective funds are combined one fund for purposes ofnet this presentation. management companies below: DIOKNOX, DUBUISSON TRUST, EDUCATION the CATHOLIC E documents and its tax-exempt status, any limits resulting contractual agreements with creditors and management companies as below: DIOKNOX, DUBUISSON TRUST, the CATHOLIC CATHOLIC EDUCATION The Diocese hasfrom designated, from netinassets without donor restrictions, assets forasanspecified operating reserve.

Net management companies as specified specified below: DIOKNOX, DUBUISSON TRUST, the (invested in DIOKNOX).

The Diocese has adopted a 5% annual spending level for distr documents and its tax-exempt status, and any limits resulting from contractual agreements with creditors and restrictions. only theoperations. use of net assets without donor restrictions are the broad limits resulting others that are entered The into in the limits courseon of its TRUST FUND (CETF), and the POPE FRANCIS CHARITABLE TRUST FUND (PFCTF).

DIOKNOX consists TRUST FUND (CETF), and the POPE FRANCIS CHARITABLE TRUST FUND (PFCTF).

TRUST FUND (CETF), anddonor-imposed the POPE FRANCIS CHARITABLE FUND (PFCTF). DIOKNOX consistsDIOKN 10 assets with donor restrictions are subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

Some restrictions areTRUST others that the are entered in the course the of itsdisclosure operations. calculated based on the average of the fair value at the end of the three previous calendar Supplemental of cash flow information: from nature into of the Diocese, environment in which it operates, the purposes specified by governing of various funds currently in excess of Diocesan operating requirements.

DUBUISSON TRUST is a restricted DUBUISSON TRUST is a restricted of various funds funds currently in excessinofexcess Diocesan requirements. of various currently of operating Diocesan operating requirements.

DUBUISSON TRUST isy DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE temporary in nature, suchfrom as and those that willdonor be met bycreditors the passage offor time or other events specified by the consistent with the Diocese's objective toparishes. maintain the purchasing power of endowment assetsS expendable use by small and needy parishes.

These two portfolios are managed by Goldman Sachsby Private To ensure of limitations restrictions placed on the use of resources available to the Diocese, the documents andcontributions its tax-exempt status, and limits resulting contractual agreements with andtrust The Diocese's unspent areobservance reported in any netthe assets with donor contributions if the limited expendable trust for use by small andsmall needy parishes.

These two portfolios are managed by Goldman Sachs Private Cash paid during year for interest $ 669,908 $ 884,554 expendable trust for use by and needy These two portfolios are managed Goldman CHANCERY Diocese's unspent contributions are reported in netOFFICE assets with donor contributions the perpetual donor limited donor.

Other donor-imposed restrictions ifare inWealth nature, such as those that the donor stipulates that Management.

The consists of funds received through the Diocesan Capital Campaign which are are theirThe use,others as arethat promised contributions are not of yetits due.

Wealth Management.

The CETF CETF consists provide additional real growth through new gifts and investment return. are entered into in that the course operations.

Wealth Management.

The CETF consists of funds received through the Diocesan Capital Campaig accounts of that the are maintained theto support principles of fund accounting. This is the their use, as are promised contributions areDiocese not yet designated also designated to support catholic catholic education education and are managed by Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors also resources bedue. maintained in perpetuity.in accordance with designated to support catholic education and areThe managed by consists Wells Fargo Wellsthe Fargo A manages aa donorrestricted fund relating to priest benefits.

PFCTF also of fundsAdvisors. received through NOTES TOfunds, FINANCIAL STATEMENTS manages donorrestricted fund relating the the unspent appreciation of contributions the endowmentif fund The Diocese's donor-restricted endowment procedure by which resources for various purposes are according to two classes of net assets that are The Diocese's unspent contributions areincluding reported in net assets with donor the classified donor limited g. manages Federal Taxes aIncome donorrestricted fund relatingto to priestgrants benefits.

The PFCTF also consists funds received Diocesan Capital Campaign which designated support for charitable work at parishes and of is managed Diocese's donor-restricted endowment funds, endowment including thefunds unspent appreciation of is thecommitted endowmenttofund Diocesan Capital Campaign which are are andThe the their portion of the Diocese's donor-restricted that the Diocese use, as arebased promisedupon contributions that arewithout not due.

Theyetaccompanying integral part these financial statements.

Net existence assets donor areare resources available toofsupport operations and subject tonet donor Diocesan Capital Campaign which are designated toassets support grants for charitable work at parishes and by Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management. the or absence ofnotes restrictions on use that are placed by itsnotdonors: without by Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management. and the inportion of the Diocese'sindonor-restricted endowment fundsrestrictions that the Diocese is an committed to maintaining perpetuity are classified net assets donor restrictions.

June 30,with 2021 and 2020 The Diocese is exempt federal incomeresulting taxes under provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the In restrictions.

The only limits on the use of net assets withoutby donor restrictions arefrom the broad limits Goldman Sachs Private Wealth Management. maintaining in perpetuity are classified in net assets with donor restrictions.

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE restrictions and netincluding assets with donor restrictions.

The Diocese's donor donor-restricted endowment funds, unspent appreciation of theinendowment fund value The the investments andDIOCESE related market value at has Junebeen 30, 2021 The recorded recorded value of of thepurposes investments are in summarized as follows: financial st1 Code; accordingly, no provision for income taxes made the accompanying OF KNOXVILLE thethe nature of in thethethe Diocese, the environment which it operates, the specified by governing resources manner specified donor or When a and donor's isofsatisfied, eitherfrom bydonor-restricted using CHANCERY OFFICE DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE therestriction portion the Diocese's endowment funds that by thethe Diocese isbyorcommitted to When a donor's restriction is satisfied, either by using the resources in the manner specified by the donor by The recorded value of the investments and related market value at June 30, 2021 are summarized as fol CHANCERY the passage of time, theAccounting expirationPolicies of the restriction is reported in the financial statements by reclassifying documents and with its tax-exempt status, and any limitsthe resulting from contractual agreements with creditors OFFICE and Cost Basis 1. Summary of Significant (Continued) CHANCERY OFFICE maintaining in perpetuity are of classified in net is assets restrictions.

Market Value passage of time, the expiration the restriction reported indonor the financial statements by reclassifying the The Diocese follows the provisions of FASB ASC 740-10-25.

Under this orga net the assets from net assetsThe with donor restrictions to net assets without donor restrictions. others that are entered into in the course of its operations.

Diocese has designated, from net assets without donor restrictions, net assets for an operating reserve.

NetCost Basis standard, anMarke NOTES TOwith FINANCIAL net assets from net assets with donor restrictions to net assets without donor restrictions. recognize that obligations tax benefit associated tax taken forSTATEMENTS tax return purposes when it is more like NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Fixed income $ 2,904,990 b. CashWhen and Cash Equivalents Fixed income obligations $ 2,944,685 a donor's restriction is satisfied, either by using the resources in the manner specified by the donor or by NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Net cash provided (used) by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities: Purchases of investments Proceeds from sale of investments Repayments from (loans to) parishes and institutions, net Cash payments for the purchase of property Proceeds from disposition of assets Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

2,649,650

2,514,087

(5,354,225) 5,424,289 5,915,792 (56,828) -

(5,049,507) 4,844,759 849,978 (65,263) 239,396

5,929,028

819,363

Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from borrowings on long-term loans 9,310,683 Proceeds from borrowings held for other diocesan entities (6,421,570) 6,421,570 Draws (repayments) on line of credit (5,000,000) Repayments ofassets long-term loans (1,621,763) (461,792) with donor restrictions are subject to donor-imposed restrictions.

Some donor-imposed restrictions position will becontributions sustained.

The implementation of this7,355,333 standardare has had no10,868,103 impact on the Dioc Common stock Common stock Diocese's contributions arestatements reported by in reclassifying net assets with donor if the donor limited the passage of time, the expirationThe of the restrictionunspent is reported in the financial the Fixed June 30, 2021 andmaterial 2020 income obligations $ 2,904,990 $ acco 2,9 Cash equivalents 287,776 uncertain Deposits from and institutions, net 9,282,264 2,534,748 Cash and and cash cash equivalents 287,776 and, For purposes of the parishes statement of cash flows, the Diocese considers certificates of deposit to be cash The Diocese not believe there are any tax positions June 30, and intheir nature, as those that bydue. the statements. passage of time ordoes other events specified net assets fromtemporary net assets with donor restrictions to net assets without donorwill restrictions. use, assuch are promised contributions thatbe aremet not yet June 30,2021 2021 and2020 2020 by the Mutual funds Mutual funds Common stock

equivalents.

c.

732,682

7,355,333 836,767

10,8

not recognize any liability for unrecognized tax benefits. For the years ended June 30, 2021 a donor. Other donor-imposed restrictions are perpetual in nature, such those that the donor stipulates that 287,776 Cash andas cash equivalents 2 were noinvestments interest or penalties recorded or included in its financial statements.

Total $ 11,280,781 Total investments $ 14,937,331 Allowance for Doubtful Accounts The Diocese's donor-restricted endowment funds, including the unspent appreciation of the endowment fund Mutual funds 732,682 resources be maintained in perpetuity.

2.

Investments and Fair Value Measurement (Continued) 2. 2.

Investments and and FairFair Value Measurement (Continued) Investments Value Measurement (Continued)1,238,931 Net cash provided (used) by financing activities 12,805,209 8

and the portion of the Diocese's donor-restricted endowment funds that the Diocese is committed to

The Diocese typically does not record an allowance for doubtful accounts and believes all loans and accounts Total investments $summarized 11,280,781 $ 14,9 The The recorded value ofof the investments andand related market value atatJune as maintaining in perpetuity are classified assets with donor restrictions.

The recorded value the investments and related market value at 30, June 30, are 2020 are summarized as follows: recorded value of the investments related market value June 30,2020 2020 aresummarized as follows: follows: receivable are collectible. The Diocese believes all receivables are appropriately valued and in willnet be collected.

Net assets without donor restrictions are resources available to support operations and not subject to donor

Cost CostBasis BasisBasis Cost Investments and Fair restrictions.

Value Measurement Netd.increase (decrease) in cash cash equivalents 9,817,609 When a donor's restriction is satisfied, by usingwithout the resources in therestrictions manner specified the broad donor orlimits by Theand only limits on the use ofeither net assets donor arebythe resulting

the passage of time, the expiration of the restriction is reported in the financial statements by reclassifying the $ $ 2,068,307 Fixed income obligations Fixed income obligations 2,068,307 Fixed income obligations $ 2,068,307 the nature of the Diocese, the environment innetwhich it Common operates, the purposes specified by governing This standard defines fair value, establishes a The Diocese followsfrom the provisions of FASB ASC 820-10. stock 7,761,087 Common stock 7,761,087 net assets assetsbased withondonor restrictions donor restrictions.

Common stock 7,761,087 framework for measuring fair value, establishes a fair from value net hierarchy the quality of inputs to used toassets without

Cash andand cashcash equivalents 332,574 Cash equivalents agreements with creditors 332,574and documents and its tax-exempt status, and from contractual measurecash fair value, and requires enhanced disclosures about fair value measurements.

The any Dioceselimits accounts resulting for Cash and cash 332,574 Cash and equivalents at beginning of year 19,172,962 346,257 Mutual fundsequivalents 346,257 Mutual funds

others that are entered into in the course of its operations.

its investments at fair value. Fair value is the amount that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (i.e. the exit price).

Mutual funds

346,257

Total investments Total investments

10,508,225 $ $10,508,225

16,138,659

Market Value Market Market Value Value $$ 2,164,070 2,164,070 $ 2,164,070 8,878,966 8,878,966 8,878,966 332,574 332,574 396,566 332,574 396,566

3,034,303 396,566

11,772,176 $$ 11,772,176

Total investments $ 10,508,225 $ 11,772,176 FASB ASC 820-10 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and a three-level hierarchy for fair value $ 28,990,571 $ 19,172,962 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year The Diocese's unspent contributions are reported in net assets with donor contributions if the donor limited measurements based upon the transparency of inputs to the valuation of an asset or liability. The classification The The Diocese value measurements record fair valueadjustments adjustmentstotoitsitsinvestments investmentsand and to to determine determine fair Diocese usesuses fairfair value measurements to to record fair value fair

value disclosures. additional information how Diocese measuresfair fairvalue, value, referto to Note Note 1and 1 –– Summary Summary their use, as are promised contributions that are not yet due. value disclosures. additional information on how thethe Diocese The Diocese uses For fairFor value measurements to on record fair valuemeasures adjustments to its refer investments to determine fa

of assets and liabilities within the hierarchy is based on whether the inputs to the valuation methodology used for measurement are observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect market-derived or market-based information obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect estimates about market data based on the best information available in the circumstances.

of Significant Accounting Policies. The following table presents the fair value hierarchy for the balances of the

of Significant Accounting Policies. information The following table presents the fair value hierarchy forrefer the balances value disclosures.

For additional onon how the Diocese measures fair value, to Note of 1 –theSumma investments of the Diocese measured at fair value a recurringbasis basisasasofofJune June 30,2021 2021and and2020: 2020: investments of the Diocese measured on a recurring of Significant Accounting Policies.at fair Thevalue following table presents the fair30, value hierarchy for the balances of t including the of unspent of on thea recurring endowment 2021 2020 investments the Dioceseappreciation measured at fair value basis2021 as of fund June 30, 2021 and2020 2020:

The Diocese's donor-restricted endowment funds, and the portion of the Diocese's donor-restricted endowmentLevelfunds that the Diocese is committed 1 $ 14,937,331 2021 to Level 1 $ 14,937,331 Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: maintaining in perpetuity are classified in net assets with donor restrictions.

The fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three broad levels:

Levelpaid 1 – Inputs that utilize the quotedyear prices infor activeinterest markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting Cash during 3. date that the organization has the ability to access.

Level 1

$

669,908 $ 14,937,331 $

3. Unconditional Promises to Give Unconditional Promises to Give Unconditional promises to give are scheduled to be collected as follows: Unconditional promises are scheduled to be collected as follows: Unconditional Promisestotogive Give

When a donor's restriction is satisfied, either by using the resources in the manner specified by the donor or by 3.

Level 2 – Inputs that include quoted priced for similar assets and liabilities in active markets and inputs that are the passage of time, the expiration of the restriction is reported in the financial statements the Due in the following years as ofby Junereclassifying 30: observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the financial Duetoingive the following years as 30: as follows: Unconditional promises are scheduled to of beJune collected instrument as of the reporting date. Fair valuesnet for these instruments estimatedrestrictions using pricing models, quotedassets net assets from assets witharedonor to net without donor restrictions.

2022 $ 138,818

$ 11,772,1762020 $ 11,772,176

$ 11,772,176

884,554

prices of securities with similar characteristics, discounted cash flows, or other valuation methodologies.

2022 $ 138,818 2023 1,293 Due in the following yearsstatements. as of June 30: The accompanying notes are an integral 11part of these financial 2023 1,293 2024 627

Level 3 – Inputs that are unobservableDIOCESE for the asset OF or liability, which are typically based on assumptions on the KNOXVILLE part of the reporting entity, as there is little, if any, related market activity.

CHANCERY OFFICE

In certain cases, the inputs used to measure fair value may fall into different levels of the fair value hierarchy.

NOTES TOcategory FINANCIAL In such cases, the determination of which within the STATEMENTS fair value hierarchy is appropriate for any given investment is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement.

June 30, 2021 and 2020

2024 2025 416 2022 $ 627 138,818 2025 416 2026 384 2023 1,293 2026 384 More than five years 75,000 2024than five years DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 627 More 75,000 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE 2025 CHANCERY OFFICE Total $ 216,538 416 CHANCERY OFFICE 2026 Total $ 216,538 384

More than NOTES five yearsTO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 75,000

and OthersTO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Realized gains and losses are determined by comparison of asset average cost, or fair value at the date of 4. Loans Receivable from ParishesNOTES donation or at the beginning of the year, to net proceeds received at the time of disposal. Unrealized gains and 4. Loans Receivable from Total Parishes and Others $ 216,538 Loans receivable from parishes and others are unsecured and generally amortize over a fifteen-year period at a June 30, 2021 and 2020 losses are determined by the difference between fair value at the beginning and end of the year. These amounts variable rate of interest.

The variable rate was 3.12% and 3.10% at June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.period at a June 30, 2021 and 2020 Loans receivable from parishes and others are unsecured and generally amortize over a fifteen-year 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Continued) are reflected in the statement of activities. variable rate of interest. The variable rate was 3.12% and 3.10% at June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

4. Loans Receivable from Parishes and Others e. Land, Buildings and Equipment 5. Land, Buildings and Equipment 5. Loans Land, Buildings Equipment receivableand from parishes and others are unsecured and generally amortize over a fifteen-year period at Land, buildings and equipment consist of the following at June 30: Land, buildings and equipment are stated in the accompanying statement of financial position at cost or fair variable rate of interest. The variable rate was 3.12% and 3.10% at June 30, 2021 2021 and 2020, respectively.

2020 market value at the date of the gift if acquired by donation. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line Land, buildings and equipment consist of the following at June 30: Land and buildings: 2021 2020 method over the expected useful life of the asset.

Land – chancery $ 246,500 $ 246,500 Land and buildings: Building – chancery Land – chancery $ 2,416,961 246,500 $ 2,416,961 246,500 f. Endowment Investment and Spending Policies Land –– retreat center 626,000 626,000 Building chancery 2,416,961 2,416,961 Buildings retreat center 4,011,388 4,011,388 Land – retreat–center 626,000 626,000 The Diocese follows the provisions of FASB ASC 958-205. This standard provides guidance on the net asset Land ––other 256,500 256,500 Buildings retreat center 4,011,388 4,011,388 classification of donor-restricted endowment funds for a not-for-profit organization that is subject to an enacted Buildings 1,150,579 1,150,579 Land – other – other 256,500 256,500 version of the Uniform Prudent Management of Institutional Funds Act of 2006 (UPMIFA). FASB ASC 958Buildings – other 1,150,579 1,150,579 205 also improves disclosures about an organization's endowment funds whether or not the organization is Total land and buildings 8,707,928 8,707,928 subject to UPMIFA. Total land and buildings 8,707,928 8,707,928 Automobiles 215,781 199,682 The State of Tennessee has adopted UPMIFA and the Diocese has determined that its net assets that are Furnishings 115,022 113,642 Automobiles 215,781 199,682 Equipment 1,005,882 993,934 restricted by a donor that resources be maintained in perpetuity meet the definition of endowment under Furnishings 115,022 113,642 UPMIFA. Equipment 1,005,882 993,934 Total property and equipment 10,044,613 10,015,186 Less: accumulated depreciation (2,906,388) (2,638,858) The Diocese has adopted investment and spending policies for endowment net assets that attempt to provide a Total property and equipment 10,044,613 10,015,186 predictable stream of funding to programs supported by its endowment funds while seeking to maintain the Total accumulated depreciation $(2,906,388) 7,138,225 $(2,638,858) 7,376,328 Less: purchasing power of the endowment net assets. The Diocese's spending and investment policies work together Totaldepreciation expense for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 $was 7,138,225 7,376,328 to achieve this objective. To achieve the investment goal, the Diocese establishes investment objectives and Total $294,931 and $$282,723, respectively. strategies of equity, fixed income, and cash within prudent risk parameters. The Diocese relies on a total return Total depreciation expense for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $294,931 and $282,723, respectively. strategy in which investment returns are achieved through both capital appreciation (realized and unrealized) 6.

Notes Payable – Bank and current yield (interest and dividends).

6. Notes Bank ThePayable Diocese– has two notes payable to Regions Bank due in monthly installments of principal plus interest. The first loan is at 30-day LIBOR + 150 basis points beginning March 1, 2010 through December 1, 2024 and an additional The spending policy states the amount to be distributed annually from the Diocese’s various endowed funds Diocese has two Bank due in monthly installments of principal plusbeginning interest. March The first that began on notes July 1,payable 2019 istoat Regions 30-day LIBOR + 175 basis points with principal and interest 1, (invested in DIOKNOX). The Diocese has adopted a 5% annual spending level for distributions to be Theloan is atthrough 30-day December LIBOR + 1, 1502024. basisThe points beginning March 1, 2010 through December 2024 additional original note payable amortizes on a 20-year basis1,and the and newan note payable calculated based on the average of the fair value at the end of the three previous calendar years. This is loan2020 onon a 15-year basis. isBoth notes payable balloon payment Januaryand 1, 2025. that began July 1, 2019 at 30-day LIBOR have + 175a basis points withon principal interest beginning March 1, consistent with the Diocese's objective to maintain the purchasing power of endowment assets as well as to loanamortizes 2020 through December 1, 2024. The original note payable amortizes on a 20-year basis and the new note payable provide additional real growth through new gifts and investment return.

Maturities of these as follows June 30:payment on January 1, 2025. amortizes on a 15-year basis.

Both notes notes are payable have at a balloon n JANUARY www.di o k no x .o rg A22 2, Taxes 2022 TH E EA S T TEN N ES S EE C ATH OLI C g. Federal Income 2022 $ 829,608 Maturities of these notes are as follows at June 30: 2023 851,432

Equipment

1,005,882 CHANCERY OFFICE

993,934

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Total

$ 7,138,225

June 30, 2021 and 2020

$ 7,376,328

June 30, 2021 and 2020

Total depreciation expense for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020 was $294,931 and $282,723, respectively.

6.

6.

7.

8.

The Diocese has approximately 1.45% participation interest in Catholic Umbrella Pool II (the Pool), a separate CHANCERY OFFICE CHANCERY OFFICE and distinct fund within The Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America, Administrator for the Pool. This entirely separate and distinct fundNOTES isTO a FINANCIAL self-insurance fund providing excess liability coverage for its NOTES STATEMENTS TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS membership, which consists of 57 small to medium-sized dioceses. Effective January 1, 2013, the Pool had a responsibility for 20% of individual casualty claims of its members that exceed $500,000 to a limit of June 30,and 20212020 and 2020 to a limit of $3,500,000, a 20% Juneclaims 30, 2021 $1,000,000, a 50% participation for casualty that exceed $1,500,000 participation for claims in excess of $5,000,000 to a limit of $5,000,000 and 5.0% responsibility for claims in excess of $10,000,000 to a limit of $10,500,000. The pool also had a 5% participation in claims-made sexual misconduct in excess of $1,500,000 to a limit of $3,500,000 beginning July 1, 1990.

12.

Commitments Notes Payable – certificates Bank (Continued)

c.

Total property and equipment 10,044,613 10,015,186 Less: accumulated depreciation (2,906,388) (2,638,858) NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Notes Payable – Bank 6. Notes Payable – Bank (Continued)

6.

The The Diocese has two payable to Regions Bankagreements, due in monthly installments of principal plus interest.

The original first is placed through the Society andthe includes both non-Pool participants.

Participating a.coverage As June 30, GSO, through Deposit and Pool Loan Fund, had loanBank. commitments to various Diocese has notes entered into two forward rate or interest rate swaps, with Regions Bank. The The This Diocese hasofentered into2021, two the forward rate agreements, or interest rateand swaps, withmade Regions The original loan swap is at 30-day LIBOR amount + 150 basis points beginning March 2010and through December 202430, and2020. an additional are liableamount (in proportion to theiras participation interest) for $3,329,066 any losses beyond the Pool's responsibilities totaling $584,320 and approved projects with for Itapproximately has a notional of $3,084,653 as of June 30,1,2021 $3,329,066 as of1, June It became swapdioceses has a parishes notional ofapproximately $3,084,653 of June 30, 2021 and as of deposit June 30,calls 2020. became Notes Payable –+ 175 Bank loan effective that beganononJuly July1,6.

1,2008 2019 is atmatures 30-day LIBOR basis(Continued) points with principal and interest 1, of effective to fund equity in loans the Pool ofThe $192,562 and $174,350 for the ending Junetwo 30, $5,787,117.

Itand is Diocese anticipated these would be second made and deposits withdrawn theamount next and on January 1, 2025.

The second swap agreement hasbeginning a notionalMarch amount onsuch Julylosses.

1, 2008The matureshas onthat January 1, 2025. swap agreement hasyears a within notional ofyears.

2020$2,943,056 through December 1, 30, 2024.

The note payable amortizes on aIt 20-year basis and new note payable on $2,943,056 respectively.

Dividends receivable were $19,179 and $9,191 for years ending Junematures 30, 2021 15152021 and As2020, June 30,2021 2020,and the$3,159,722 GSO, through Deposit and Loan Fund, hadthe made loan commitments toon various as of June 2021 andoriginal $3,159,722 as of June 30, 2020. was effective Julythe 1, 2019 and matures as ofofJune 30, as oftheJune 30, 2020.

It was effective July 1, 2019 and amortizes on 1, a 15-year Both notes payable have aOF balloon January parishes totaling approximately $268,004 and deposit calls for approximately and 2020, respectively.

As ofagreement June 30, 2021 and 2020, the approved Pool basis, has projects established $3,679,559 and $1,537,083, January 2025. basis.

The first swap agreement provides, on KNOXVILLE apayment monthlyon basis, for 1, the2025.

Diocese to pay a fixed rate of January 1, 2025.

The first swap provides, on monthly for the with Diocese to pay a fixed rate of DIOCESE OFahad KNOXVILLE DIOCESE KNOXVILLE DIOCESE OF The Diocese hasamortizes entered into rate agreements, interest rate swaps, with Regions Bank.

The DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE $5,724,330. respectively, for specific claim reserves resulting from coverage assumed by thewhile Pool. receiving a variable rate of interest of 6.99% on the notional amount,CHANCERY which over the lifetwo of the forward swap, while receiving a variable rate ofor interest of 6.99% on the notional amount, which amortizes over life oforiginal the swap, CHANCERY OFFICE OFFICE DIOCESE OFthe KNOXVILLE CHANCERY OFFICE Maturities of these are follows June 30: CHANCERY OFFICE interest of 30-day LIBOR +notes 150 basis onatthe notional amount.ofThe second swap agreement on a 2021 interest of 30-day LIBOR + 150 as basisof points on the notional amount.

The second swap agreement provides, on a swap hasaspoints a notional amount $3,084,653 as of provides, June 30, and $3,329,066 June 30, 2020.

It became CHANCERY OFFICE 18 b.basis, In for Junethe 1992, Diocese purchased Cedar Bluff in Catholic west Knoxville a newFund parish by On November 13, 2018,thetheto Diocese extended a interest ten-yearon to the Education Trust monthly basis, for the Diocese to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.89% on the notional amount, which amortizes over d. monthly Diocese pay a fixed rate ofproperty ofamortizing 1.89% on loan theRoad notional amount, which for amortizes over DIOCESE onTO July and LIBOR matures January The second agreement has notional amount NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTES TO FINANCIAL NOTES FINANCIAL STATEMENTS and DUBUISSON TRUST InSTATEMENTS October 2003, the Diocese property 2022 whileeffective $ 2008 829,608 for of replacement of DIOKNOX thereceiving fixed income instruments inOF its KNOXVILLE investment portfolio.

The loan has a purchased variable rate of on the life of the swap, receiving a variable rate of1, interest ofSTATEMENTS 30-day on theon notional amount. 1, 2025. the life theborrowing swap,swap while a variable rateTO ofainterest offunds.

30-day LIBOR onof the notional amount.

NOTES FINANCIAL CHANCERY OFFICE NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Brickey Lane in north Knoxville for new parish by borrowing additional The Diocese 2023 less 1.75% however, in the event less 1.75% is lower than 3.50%, rate is equalFunds. to the simple $2,943,056 as of June 851,432 30, 2021 and $3,159,722 as of June 30, Prime 2020.

It was effective JulyPrime 1,a 2019 and matures on the DIOKNOX property forthe newavailable parishes in30, Erwin, Rutledge, in September 2024 875,067 average ofthe thatDiocese amount and 3.50%.

As ofJune June 2021 the$10,000,000 rate 2020 onand the Maynardville, loan was 2.50% the agreement balance onwith the 2013, In July 2019, the Diocese reduced the available balance onand its $10,000,000 revolving line of credit agreement with In July 2019,purchased reduced balance on its revolving line Tennessee ofand credit 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021 2020 June 30, 2021 and 2020 June 30, 2021 and 2020 January 1, 2025.

The first swap agreement provides, on a monthly basis, for the Diocese to pay a fixed rate of NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2013,As and bythe borrowing additional DIONOX funds.

In$1,761,024.

August 2014, the 11,235,146 loan Bank wasDecember $1,556,301. of January June 30,2014 2020 the rate 30, on was2020 2.50% and balance was Regions Bank 2025 to $500,000. Bank advances on the credit line are determined based on temporary cash flow needs. Regions to $500,000.

Bank advances onrespectively the credit line areloan determined based onthe temporary cash flow needs.

June 2021 and Diocese purchased land buildings on Road inrate westthe Knoxville, new parish by note was inswap, full subsequent to receiving the end30-day ofCarmichael the LIBOR. fiscal year.

The advances carry an interest rate ofof 1.75% over 30-day LIBOR. In addition, the undrawn balance on the available The This advances carry an interest rate ofand 1.75% over In addition, balance onfor thea available interest 6.99% on the notional amount, which amortizes over the life ofpaid the while a variable ofundrawnTennessee borrowing DIOKNOX Funds.

Theof Catholic of East Tennessee will repay loans at Junefee 30, 2021 andFoundation 2020 was no line of credit carries an annual unused commitment fee$13,791,252 of 0.25%. There was no outstanding balance on the line13. of line of credit carries anadditional annual unused commitment 0.25%.

There outstanding balance on thethese line of Lease Obligations 6.

Notes Payable – Bank (Continued) Notes Payable Bank (Continued) interest of 30-day LIBOR + 150 basis points on the notional amount.

The second provides, theObligations rate of $100,000 year or asagreement funds are available.

As of Juneon 30, a 2021, the DIOKNOX balance owed was 13.

Lease credit as of–June 30, 2021 or June 30, 2020. credit of June 30, 2021 or Juneper 30,swap 2020.

13. asLease Obligations $250,000 andnotional the DUBUISSON TRUST balanceamortizes owed was $500,000.

This is an interest free loan. As of monthly basis, for theor or Diocese toswaps, pay a Regions fixed rate ofTheinterest ofThe1.89% on the amount, which over leases.

Diocese leases office equipment and automobiles underunder various operating Future minimum payments Diocese has entered forward agreements, interest with Regions Bank.The original The The Diocese has the entered intointo twotwo forward raterate agreements, interest raterate with The June Diocese leases office equipment and automobiles various operating Future minimum payments 30, leases 2020, the DIOKNOX owed $350,000 the leases.

DUBUISSON TRUST balance owed was Lease Obligations In addition, Diocese obtained a Small Business Loan as part of theswaps, Paycheck ProtectionBank.

Program inoriginal the prior Inon13. addition, the Diocese obtained a Small balance Business Loanwas asunder part of theand Paycheck Protection Program in the prior The Diocese office equipment and automobiles various operating leases.

Future minimum payments these leases are as follows: has a notional amount oflife $3,084,653 asswap, of June 30, 2021 and $3,329,066 as ofJune June30,30, 2020.

Itinterest became of swapswap has a notional amount of $3,084,653 as of June 30, 2021 and $3,329,066 as of 2020.

It became the of the while receiving a variable rate of 30-day LIBOR on the notional amount. on these leases areto asfully follows: $500,000. fiscal year that was used to fully retain employees during closures related to COVID-19. The Diocese received full fiscal year that was used retain employees during closures related to COVID-19.

The Diocese received full on these leases are as follows: effective on July 1, 2008 and matures on January 1, 2025.TheThe second swap agreementhas hasa anotional notionalamount amountofof effective on July 1, 2008 and matures on January 1, 2025. second swap agreement The Diocese leases office equipment and automobiles under various operating Future minimum forgiveness on its outstanding loan of $810,683 effective June 30, 2021. Of that amount, $688,988 is included in forgiveness on its outstanding loan ofEnded $810,683 effective June 30, 2021.

Ofleases. that amount, $688,988payments is included in Year June 30: $2,943,056 as of June 30, 2021 and $3,159,722 as of June 30, 2020.

It was effective July 1, 2019 and matures on on these leases are as follows: Year Ended June 30: $2,943,056 as of June 30, 2021 and $3,159,722 as of Junewas 30, credited 2020. Ittowas effective Julyentities 1, 2019asand c. The hasOperations approximately 1.45% participation interest in Catholic Umbrella Pool Pool), a separate grant revenue on Chancery Operations and $121,695 other Diocesan an matures offset to on prior grant revenue onDiocese Chancery andEnded $121,695 was credited to other Diocesan entities as II an(the offset to prior Year 30: January 1, 2025.

The first swap agreement provides, on a monthly basis, the Diocese payabalance afixed fixedrate rateof of its $10,000,000 Inamounts July 2019, the30,on Diocese reduced the available on revolving line of June credit agreement January 1, 2025.

Thefor first swap agreement provides, a monthly basis, forfor the Diocese totopay and distinct fund withineffective The Catholic Mutual Society ofwith America, Administrator for the Pool. This support payments those effective June 2021. support payments for those amounts June 30, 2021.Relief Year Ended June 30: 2022 $ 31,106 interest of 6.99% on the notional amount, which amortizes over the life of the swap, while receiving a variable rate of 2022 $ 31,106 interest of 6.99% on the notional amount, which amortizes over the life of the swap, while receiving a variable rate of entirely separate and distinct fund fund providing excess liability coverage for its 2022 is a self-insurance $ 31,106 Regions tothe$500,000.

Bank advances on the credit line are determined based on2023 temporary cash flow needs.

16,900 interest of 30-day LIBOR + 150 basis Bank points notional amount.The The second swapagreement agreement provides, 2023 16,900 interest 30-day LIBOR +Offered 150 basis on on the second swap ononmost a a The Londonmembership, which Rate consists of2022 572023 small to medium-sized dioceses.

Effective January 2013, 16,900 TheofLondon Interbank Ratepoints (LIBOR) is notional a global amount. benchmark interest rate calculated dailyprovides, and is the Interbank Offered (LIBOR) is a global benchmark interest rate calculated daily1,and is the the Pool most had a $ 31,106 2024 15,610 2024 15,610 monthly basis, for the Diocese to pay a fixed rate of interest of 1.89% on the notional amount, which amortizes over carry interest of 1.75% overamortizes 30-day Inresponsibility addition,infor the undrawn balance on the monthly basis, forbenchmark the DioceseThe payadvances a fixedmarkets rate of interestan of an 1.89% on therate notional amount, which over of markets individual casualty claims of available its$200 members a limit 2024 15,610 widely used intothe capital (there are estimated $200 trillion in financial contracts tiedLIBOR. to widely used benchmark the20% capital (there are an estimated trillionthat in exceed financial$500,000 contractstotied to of 2023 16,900 2025 14,564 2025 14,564 the life of the swap, while receiving a variable rate of interest of 30-day LIBOR on the notional amount. the life of the swap, while receiving a variable of interest ofswap 30-day LIBOR onasthe notional $1,000,000, a 50% participation for casualty that exceed $1,500,000 a limit of 14,564 2024 15,610 LIBOR).

The LIBOR rate is often used rate in interest ratean agreements, well as in amount. floating rate fee notes,of lease LIBOR). There The LIBOR rate is often used in 2025 interest rate claims swapon agreements, as well as intofloating rate$3,500,000, notes, leasea 20% line of credit carries annual unused commitment 0.25%. was no outstanding balance the line of 2026 14,355 2026 14,355 participation forplacements, claims in excess of $5,000,000 to a limit of $5,000,000 and 5.0% responsibility for two claims in 2025 14,564 2026 14,355 contracts, bankthe loans, direct placements, and other types of financings and credit enhancements.

Theagreement Diocese has two contracts, bank loans, direct and other types of financings and credit enhancements.

The Diocese has Thereafter 3,589 Thereafter 3,589 In July 2019, Diocese reduced the available balance on $10,000,000 revolving line credit with ofwith June 30,interest orswap June 30, 2020.

2026 excess to a limit of The14,355 pool also had a 5% participation claims-made In July 2019, the Diocese the as available balance on2021 its its $10,000,000 revolving line ofofcredit agreement with Thereafter 3,589 bank loans that are tiedreduced tocredit LIBOR along itsthe two rate agreements.

Sometime after 2021, LIBOR is bank loans that are of tied$10,000,000 to LIBOR along with its$10,500,000. two interest rate swap agreements.

Sometime after in 2021, LIBOR issexual Regions Bank to $500,000.

Bank advances on credit line are determined based on temporary cash flow needs.

Thereafter 3,589 misconduct certificates in excess of $1,500,000 to a limit of $3,500,000 beginning July that 1, 1990.

Regions Banktotobe$500,000.

BankThis advances onwill the affect creditthe lineDiocese’s are determined based on temporary cash flow LIBOR needs. expected discontinued. change loans and interest rate swaps that and interest rate swaps use LIBOR as $loans 96,124 advances carry an interest of 1.75% 30-day LIBOR. In addition, undrawn balanceon on use the availableas expected to be discontinued. This change will affect the Diocese’s $ 96,124 $ 96,124 The The advances carry interest raterate of 1.75% overover 30-day LIBOR. addition, thethe undrawn balance the index.

Ascarries aanresult of the planned phaseout of fee LIBOR, theInDiocese anticipates transitioning outthe ofavailable the line LIBOR the index. As a result of the planned phaseout of LIBOR, the$ Diocese anticipates transitioning out of the LIBOR 96,124 line of credit an annual unused commitment of 0.25%.

There was no outstanding balance on the of In addition, the Diocese obtained a Small Business Loan as part of the Paycheck Protection Program in the prior This coverage is placed through the Society and includes both Pool and non-Pool participants.

Participating line index of credit carries an annual unused commitment fee of 0.25%.

There was no outstanding balance on the line of onof itsJune loans30, and interest rate swap agreements. Regions Bank and the Diocese have agreed to transition to the a index its loans interest rateother swapproperty agreements.

Bankbasis. andbasis. theTotal Diocese have agreed tofor transition to the a The Diocese also rented on a Regions month-to-month Total rent expenses the years ended credit or June 2020.

The on Diocese alsoandrented other property ontoa their month-to-month rent expenses the years ended The dioceses Diocese alsoliable rented other property on a participation month-to-month basis.

Total rent expenses for the years ended are (in proportion interest) for any losses beyondforthe Pool's responsibilities credit as ofasJune 30, 20212021 or June 30, 30, 2020. commercially acceptable replacement rate that prior towas June 2023 replacement rate is expected commercially acceptable replacement rate prior to June 2023 when LIBOR sunsets.

The replacement rate is expected June 30, 2021 and 2020 amounted to $58,807 and $51,026, respectively.

The Diocese also rented other property on a month-to-month basis.

Total rent expenses for the years ended fiscal year usedwhen to LIBOR fully sunsets. retainThe employees during closures related to COVID-19.

The Diocese received full June 30, 2021 and 2020 amounted toDiocese $58,807 andequity $51,026, respectively.

June 30,fund 2021 andlosses.

2020 amounted to $58,807 and $51,026, respectively. to such The has in the Pool of $192,562 and $174,350 for the years ending June to track closely LIBORobtained and the aimpact the rate Loan conversion expected to haveProtection a minimal Program impact oninthe closely to LIBOR andamounted the impact of the and rate$51,026, conversion is expected to have a minimal impact on the Diocese 30, June 30, 2021 and 2020 to $58,807 respectively.

In addition, the to Diocese SmallofBusiness as partis of the loan Paycheck theDiocese prior to track 2021Plans and 2020, respectively.

Dividends receivable is wereincluded $19,179 and in $9,191 for the years ending June 30, 2021 forgiveness on its of $810,683 30,payments.

2021.

Of that amount, $688,988 In addition, the Diocese obtained a Small Business Loanoutstanding as part of the Paycheck Protection Programeffective in the prior June interest payments. interest 14.

Pension fiscal year that was used to fully retain employees during closures related to COVID-19. The Diocese received full Plans 14. Pension Pension Plans andPlans 2020, respectively. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Pool has established $3,679,559 and $1,537,083, 14. fiscal year that was used to fully retainrevenue employees duringChancery closures related to COVID-19. and The Diocese receivedwas full14. Pension grant Operations $121,695 other Diocesan entities as an offset to prior forgiveness on its outstanding loan of $810,683on effective June 30, 2021.

Of that amount, $688,988 is included in credited to forgiveness on its outstanding loan of $810,683 effective June 30, 2021. Of that amount, $688,988 is included in Lay respectively, Pension Plan for specific claim reserves resulting from coverage assumed by the Pool. grant revenue on Chancery Operations and $121,695for wasthose creditedamounts to other Diocesan entities as an offset to prior Lay Pension Plan Plan LayPension Pension Plan Lay support payments effective 30, grant revenueRestricted on Chancery Operations and $121,695 was credited to other Diocesan entities asJune an offset to2021. prior7. Deferred 7. support Deferred Revenue Restricted Revenue payments for those amounts effective June 30, 2021. d.

On November the Diocese extended a ten-year amortizing loan to the Trust Fund On January 1, 2006,13, the2018, Diocese of Knoxville Lay Pension Plan was established.

ThisCatholic Plan is Education a multi-employer support payments for those amounts effective June 30, 2021.

On January January 2006, Diocese ofincome Knoxville Lay Pension Plan was established.

This a multi-employer On 1,1,2006, thethe of Knoxville Lay Pension Pension Plan established.

ThisThis Plan is Plan a loan multi-employer On January 1, replacement 2006, the of Knoxville Lay Plan was established.

Plan is aisof multi-employer for ofDiocese the fixed instruments in itswas investment portfolio.

The has a variable rate of defined benefit planDiocese available toadvances all full-time employees.

The benefits areunexpended based on years service andand the Deferred restricted revenue consists of advances from grantor agencies that were unexpended at June 30, 2021 and Deferred restricted revenue consists of from grantor agencies that were at June 30, 2021 defined benefit plan available to all full-time employees.

The benefits are based on years of service and the The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a global benchmark interest rate calculated daily and is the most defined benefit plan available allthe full-time employees.

The are based years service definedemployee’s benefit plan available toduring alltofull-time employees.

The benefits are based on on years of of service and thethe Prime less 1.75% however, in event less 1.75% isbenefits lower than the rate isand equal toand the simple The London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a global benchmark interest rate calculated daily and is the most compensation the period ofPrime employment.

Contributions are 3.50%, noncontributory are based on The widely LondonThese Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is a global benchmark interest rate calculated daily and is the most 2020. advances are earned as program requirements are met.

In the event such requirements are not met, these 2020.

These advances are earned as program requirements are met.

In the event such requirements are not met, these employee’s compensation during the period of employment.

Contributions are noncontributory and are based on employee’s compensation during the period of employment.

Contributions are noncontributory and are based on used benchmark in the capital markets (there are an estimated $200 trillion in financial contracts tied to employee’s compensation duringrate, the period employment.

Contributions arethenoncontributory on on the average of that to amount andwhich 3.50%.

As ofannually Juneannually 30,by2021 the on loan was 2.50%and andare thebased balance the actuarially determined is of established byadministrator. the rate administrator. widely used benchmark in the capital markets (there are an estimated $200 trillion in financial contracts tied to advances must be refunded to the grantor. advances must be refunded the grantor. the actuarially determined rate, which is established the the actuarially determined rate, which is established annually by the administrator. widely usedin interest benchmark the capital (there estimated $200 trillion financial tiedwasto2.50% and the balance was $1,761,024.

LIBOR). The LIBOR rate is often used rate swap in agreements, as well asmarkets in floating rate notes,are lease anthe actuarially rate, which isinestablished annually by the administrator. loandetermined was $1,556,301.

As of June 30, 2020 thecontracts rate on the loan LIBOR).

Thebank LIBOR is often used inand interest rate swap agreements, as well as in floating rate notes,has lease contracts, loans,rate direct placements, other types of financings and credit enhancements.

The Diocese two This notetable was paid inforth full subsequent to the end of the Thefollowing following table sets the information related toDiocese the fiscal Diocese oflease Knoxville Lay Pension of the last LIBOR).

The LIBOR rate is often used in interest rate swap agreements, as well in floating rate notes, The sets forth theas information related to the of year.

Knoxville Lay Pension Plan as Plan of theas last contracts, bank loans, direct placements, and other types of financings and credit enhancements.

The Diocese has two The following table sets forth the information related to the Diocese of Knoxville Pension Plan last bank loans that are tied to LIBOR along with its two interest rate swap agreements. Sometime after 2021, LIBOR is The following table setsdates: forth the information related to the Diocese of Knoxville LayLay Pension Plan as as of of thethe last actuarialvaluation valuation dates: actuarial bank loans that are tied to LIBOR along with its two interest rate swap agreements.

Sometime after 2021, LIBOR is 8. expected Deposits Payable to Parishes and Others 8.

Deposits Payable to Parishes and Others actuarial valuation dates: to be discontinued.

This changebank will affect the Diocese’s and interest rate swaps that use LIBOR contracts, loans, direct loans placements, and other types ofasfinancings and credit actuarial valuation dates: enhancements. The Diocese has two expected to be discontinued. change phaseout will affectofthe Diocese’s loans and interest rate swaps that as the index.

As a result of This the planned LIBOR, the Diocese anticipates transitioning outuse of LIBOR the LIBOR loans are tied to along with its two rate swap agreements.

Sometime after 2021, LIBOR is the index. aloans resultand thebank planned phaseout of LIBOR, the Diocese transitioning out of the interest LIBOR Deposits payable toof parishes and arethat non-collateralized andLIBOR payable upon demand.

Interest is paid based parishes and others are non-collateralized and payable upon demand.

Interest1,is2020 paid based on a index onAs its interest rate others swap agreements.

Regions Bank andanticipates the Diocese have agreed to transition to theona a Deposits payable toAs January 1, 2021 January Asof:of: January 1, 2021 January 1, 2020 As of: January 1, 2021 January 1, 2020 indexcommercially on its loans and interest rate swap agreements.

Regions and the Diocese have to transition the Diocese’s a variable rate, which was 0.20% and 0.60% atbe June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. variable rate, which was 0.20% and 0.60% 30, 2021 2020, respectively. acceptable replacement rate todiscontinued.

June 2023Bank when LIBOR sunsets.

Theagreed replacement rate is to expected expected toprior This change will affect the loans interest rateat June swaps thatanduse LIBOR As of:and January 1, 2021as January 1, 2020 19 commercially acceptable replacement rate prior when is LIBOR sunsets.

The replacement rate expected Plan assets at fair value $ 29,823,065 $ 27,072,916 to track closely to LIBOR and the impact of to theJune rate 2023 conversion expected to have a minimal impact onisthe Diocese Plan assets at fair value $ LIBOR 29,823,065 $ 27,072,916 index. result the planned phaseout of transitioning of $the OFout KNOXVILLE Plan assets at DIOCESE fair value $ 29,823,065 $ 27,072,916 to track closely to LIBOR andthe the impact of theAs rate a conversion isof expected to have a minimal impact on theLIBOR, Diocese the Diocese anticipates obligation ( 33,341,271) (32,006,309) interest payments.

Benefit obligation ( 33,341,271) (32,006,309) PlanBenefit assets at fair value 29,823,065 $ 27,072,916 Benefit obligationCHANCERY OFFICE ( 33,341,271) (32,006,309) interest payments. index on its loans and interest rate swap agreements. Regions Bank and theBenefit Diocese have agreed to transition to the a obligation ( 33,341,271) (32,006,309) Funded status $ (3,518,206) $ (4,933,393)

Funded status $ (3,518,206) $ (4,933,393) Funded The status replacement rate is $expected (3,518,206) $ (4,933,393) commercially acceptable replacement rate prior to June 2023 when LIBOR sunsets.

7. Deferred Restricted Revenue NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Funded status $ (3,518,206) $ (4,933,393) 16 Deferred Restricted Revenue to track closely to LIBOR and the impact of the rate conversion is expected to have a minimal impact on the Diocese Year ended: December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE Deferred restricted revenue consists of advances from grantor agencies that were unexpended at June 30, 2021 and Year ended: December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 June 30, 2021 and 2020 Year ended: December 31, 2020 December 31, 2019 interest payments.

16 CHANCERY OFFICE Deferred revenueare consists from grantorare agencies were unexpended at June 2020.restricted These advances earned of as advances program requirements met. Inthat the event such requirements are30, not2021 met, and these $ 1,318,967 $ December 1,307,509 Year ended:Total employer contributions December 31, 2020 31, 2019 DIOCESE OFare KNOXVILLE Total employer contributions $ 1,318,967 $ 1,307,509 advances must be refunded to the grantor.

2020.

These advances are earned as program requirements met. In the event such requirements are not met, these Total employer contributions $ 1,318,967 $ 1,307,509 of Knoxville contributions $$ 179,455 $ $ 115,484 CHANCERY OFFICE STATEMENTS advances must be refunded to the grantor.

TotalDiocese employer contributions 1,318,967 1,307,509 NOTES TO FINANCIAL 14. Pension Plans (Continued) Diocese of Knoxville contributions $ 179,455 $ 115,484 Diocese of Knoxville contributions $1,549,876 179,455 $ 115,484 Benefits paid $ $ 1,474,755 8. Deposits Payable to7.

Parishes and Others Restricted NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Deferred Revenue Diocese of Knoxville contributions $ 179,455 $ 115,484 Lay Pension Plan (Continued) Benefits paid $ 1,549,876 $ 1,474,755 June 30, 2021 and 2020 Deposits Payable to Parishes and Others Benefits paid $ 1,549,876 $ 1,474,755 Deposits payable to parishes and others are non-collateralized and payable upon demand. Interest is paid based on a Benefits paid 1,549,876levels were 7.25% $ and 1,474,755 The weighted average discount rate and rate of increase in future$compensation 4.0%, June and2020, 2020respectively. variable rate, which was 0.20% and 0.60% at June30, 30, 2021 2021 and Deposits payable to parishes and others are restricted non-collateralized payable upon demand.

Interest is paid based grantor on a Deferred revenue consists of advances from agenciesThethat werelong-term unexpended June 30,of Knoxville 2021 and respectively. annualized rate of return at on the Diocese Lay Pension Plan assets for the variable rate, which was 0.20% and 0.60% at June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. years ended December 31, 2020 was 10.0%. For additional information about this Plan, please contact the 9. Funds Held for Others 2020. These advances are earned as program requirements arefive met.

In the event such requirements are not met, these Diocesan Lay Retirement Administrative Committee, Plan Administrator.

9. Funds Held for Others

thethegrantor.

During the prior fiscaladvances year, several must parishesbe andrefunded institutions to within Diocese applied for and received loans under the

Priest Retirement Plan Paycheck Protections Program.

At Juneand 30,institutions 2020, the within Diocese holding these pendingloans forgiveness During the prior fiscal year, several parishes thewas Diocese applied forfunds and received under thein the amount Paycheck Protections Program.

Junefully 30, 2020, the Diocese was30, holding the amount toOn of $6,421,570.

These loansAt were forgiven as of June 2021these and funds those pending amountsforgiveness were fullyintransferred theJuly related 1, 2005, the Diocese of Knoxville Priest Retirement Plan was established. This Plan is a multi-employer ofparishes $6,421,570. loans were fully forgiven as of June 30, 2021 and those amounts were fully transferred to the related defined benefit plan available to all full-time priests. The benefits are based on years of service. Contributions are and These institutions. parishes and institutions.

8. Deposits Payable to Parishes and Others noncontributory and are based on the actuarially determined rate, which is established annually by the

10.

10.

administrator.

Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions

table sets forthdemand. information related to the Diocese of Knoxville Deposits payable to parishes and others are non-collateralized The andfollowing payable upon Interest is paid based Priest on aPension Plan as of the last actuarial valuation dates: 0.60% at June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

Net Assets Without Donor Restrictions

Net assets without donor restrictions at30 June 30 are designated as follows: Net assets without donor restrictions at June are designated as follows: variable rate, which was 0.20% and

2021

2021

$ 3,418,841 $ 3,418,841 948,093 948,093 2,252,8442,252,844

$ 2,964,892$ 2,964,892 771,104 771,104 2,316,867 2,316,867

Total

$ 6,619,778

$ 6,052,863

11.

$ 6,619,778

As of:

2020

Current operating funds funds Current operating Current designated funds funds Current designated PlantPlant FundFund

Total

11.

2020

$ 6,052,863

July 1, 2019

Plan assets at fair value Benefit obligation

$

6,765,854 (9,738,523)

$

Funded status

$

(2,972,669)

$ (2,198,103)

June 30, 2020

June 30, 2019

Year ended:

6,963,643 (9,161,746)

Net Assets With Donor Restrictions

Total employer contributions

$

169,456

$

355,433

Net assets with donor restrictions at June 30 are available for the following purposes:

Benefits paid

$

511,191

$

474,757

Net Assets With Donor Restrictions

Net assets with donor restrictions at June 30 are available for the following purposes: 2021

Quasi endowment – growth Missions and Religious personnel care Quasi endowment – growth Restricted expendable trusts Missions and Religious Catholic education trust fund personnel care expendable trusts PopeRestricted Francis charitable trust fund Catholic education Cemetery perpetual care trust fund Pope burses Francis charitable trust fund Seminary Bishop’s appealperpetual care Cemetery GiFT/Home campaign Seminary burses funds Unconditional promises to give Bishop’s appeal Endowment Funds:campaign funds GiFT/Home Cemetery perpetual care Unconditional promises to give Mass trusts Endowment Seminary bursesFunds:

2021

$ 1,672,115 582,676 $ 1,672,115 1,951,310 7,667,725 582,676 2,870,7611,951,310 81,7587,667,725 82,6282,870,761 1,953,939 81,758 166,518 82,628 216,5381,953,939

166,518

387,517 216,538 28,862 489,108

2020 $

2020

693,214 317,800 $ 693,214 1,911,611 317,800 6,467,492 2,240,075 1,911,611 68,285 6,467,492 68,516 2,240,075 1,793,996 68,285 198,858 68,516 354,593 1,793,996 368,858 28,862 489,108

Cemetery perpetual care DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE387,517 Total Mass trusts $ 18,151,455 28,862 $ 15,001,268 CHANCERY OFFICE Seminary burses 489,108

An addition of $18,659 was contributed to the Cemetery perpetual care endowment fund during the year.

Total

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS $ 18,151,455

198,858 354,593

The weighted average discount rate was 7.5%. The annualized long-term rate of return on the Diocese of Knoxville Priest Retirement Plan assets for the ten years ended June 30, 2020 was 6.23%. For additional information about this Plan, please contact the Diocese of Knoxville, Plan Administrator.

Effective January 1, 2006, the Diocese of Knoxville sponsored a Retirement Savings Plan covering all of its fulltime employees and their related parishes and institutions.

The Plan provides for member employers to match up to NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS the standard percentage of payroll contributed by employees, as determined by the Lay Retirement Committee.

Employees may contribute additional amounts up to the Internal Revenue Service limitations. All participants’ 30, 2021 and 2020 interests in the Retirement Savings Plan are vested June automatically in the Plan.

The GSO made contributions to the Plans of $102,384 and $67,651 for the years ended June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively.

15.

Other Post-Retirement Employee Benefits (OPEB) 17

368,858 28,862 489,108

$ 15,001,268

16.

Commitments a.

b.

c.

Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require the actuarial determination of the potential liability associated with post-retirement benefits provided to employees. The associated current expense and future liability are required to be recorded by the organization. Management has elected not to accrue this expense and liability. The only OPEB that exists for the Diocese relates to health care benefits provided to the Diocesan priests. In order to provide the post-retirement health care benefits, assessments are made on all parishes to fund the current and future needs of the priests. The Diocese has entered into agreements with an insurance company to provide for long-term care insurance for the priests. It is the opinion of management that these arrangements, along with the reserve in the Priest Benefit Foundation, will provide the necessary funds to cover the costs associated with the priests’ post-retirement health care benefit.

Liquidity and Availability of Financial Assets The following reflects the Diocese’s financial assets as of June 30, 2021 reduced by amounts not available for general use because of contractual or donor-imposed restrictions within one year of the balance sheet date:

As of June 30, 2021, the GSO, through the Deposit and Loan Fund, had made loan commitments to various parishes totaling approximately $584,320 and approved projects with deposit calls for approximately $5,787,117. It is anticipated that these loans would be made and deposits withdrawn within the next two years.

As of June 30, 2020, the GSO, through the Deposit and Loan Fund, had made loan commitments to various parishes totaling approximately $268,004 and had approved projects with deposit calls for approximately $5,724,330.

Cash and cash equivalents Investments Accounts receivable Unconditional promises to give Loans receivable from parishes and others Interest receivable

In June 1992, the Diocese purchased property on Cedar Bluff Road in west Knoxville for a new parish by borrowing DIOKNOX and DUBUISSON TRUST funds. In October 2003, the Diocese purchased property on Brickey Lane in north Knoxville for a new parish by borrowing additional DIOKNOX Funds. The Diocese purchased property for new parishes in Erwin, Rutledge, and Maynardville, Tennessee in September 2013, December 2013, and January 2014 respectively by borrowing additional DIONOX funds. In August 2014, the Diocese purchased land and buildings on Carmichael Road in west Knoxville, Tennessee for a new parish by borrowing additional DIOKNOX Funds. The Catholic Foundation of East Tennessee will repay these loans at the rate of $100,000 per year or as funds are available. As of June 30, 2021, the DIOKNOX balance owed was $250,000 and the DUBUISSON TRUST balance owed was $500,000. This is an interest free loan. As of June 30, 2020, the DIOKNOX balance owed was $350,000 and the DUBUISSON TRUST balance owed was $500,000.

The Diocese has approximately 1.45% participation interest in Catholic Umbrella Pool II (the Pool), a separate and distinct fund within The Catholic Mutual Relief Society of America, Administrator for the Pool. This entirely separate and distinct fund is a self-insurance fund providing excess liability coverage for its membership, which consists of 57 small to medium-sized dioceses. Effective January 1, 2013, the Pool had a responsibility for 20% of individual casualty claims of its members that exceed $500,000 to a limit of $1,000,000, a 50% participation for casualty claims that exceed $1,500,000 to a limit of $3,500,000, a 20% participation for claims in excess of $5,000,000 to a limit of $5,000,000 and 5.0% responsibility for claims in excess of $10,000,000 to a limit of $10,500,000. The pool also had a 5% participation in claims-made sexual misconduct certificates in excess of $1,500,000 to a limit of $3,500,000 beginning July 1, 1990.

DIOCESE OF KNOXVILLE CHANCERY OFFICE

Retirement Savings Plan

An addition of $18,659 was contributed to the Cemetery perpetual care endowment fund during the year.

June 30, 2021 and 2020 12.

July 1, 2020

Total financial assets Less those unavailable for general expenditures within one year due to contractual restrictions Financial assets available to meet cash needs for general expenditures within one year

$ 28,990,571 14,937,331 586,510 216,538 29,620,392 28,650 74,379,992 (42,696,219) $ 31,683,773

As of June 30, 2021, $42,696,219 of the financial assets are subject to other contractual restrictions that make them unavailable for general expenditure within one year of the balance sheet date. The Diocese maintains financial assets, which consist of cash and cash equivalents, investments and loans to parishes to meet normal operating expenses within one year which on average are $8,655,000. The majority of the normal budgeted operating expenses are met by current year contributions, grants, and assessments received in the current fiscal year rather than from balance sheet assets.

17.

Subsequent Events Management has evaluated subsequent events through November 17, 2021, which is the date the financial statements were available to be issued. In September 2021, the balance on the Catholic Education Trust Fund note was paid in full. In addition, a $3,000,000 payment was made to principal in September 2021 on the second Regions Bank term loan.

This coverage is placed through the Society and includes both Pool and non-Pool participants. Participating dioceses are liable (in proportion to their participation interest) for any losses beyond the Pool's responsibilities to fund such losses. The Diocese has equity in the Pool of $192,562 and $174,350 for the years ending June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Dividends receivable were $19,179 and $9,191 for the years ending June 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. As of June 30, 2021 and 2020, the Pool has established $3,679,559 and $1,537,083, respectively, for specific claim reserves resulting from coverage assumed by the Pool. d.

On November 13, 2018, the Diocese extended a ten-year amortizing loan to the Catholic Education Trust Fund for replacement of the fixed income instruments in its investment portfolio. The loan has a variable rate of Prime less 1.75% however, in the event Prime less 1.75% is lower than 3.50%, the rate is equal to the simple average of that amount and 3.50%. As of June 30, 2021 the rate on the loan was 2.50% and the balance on the loan was $1,556,301. As of June 30, 2020 the rate on the loan was 2.50% and the balance was $1,761,024.

This note was paid in full subsequent to the end of the fiscal year.

TH E EAST T E N N E S S E E C AT HO L I C

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JANUARY 2, 2022 n A23

20

Pew continued from page A15

“people who no longer identify with their childhood religion either as young adults or even before entering adulthood.”

Prayer also has taken a hit since 2007. The percentage of those who said they prayed every day then was 58 percent; today, it’s 45 percent.

So, too, are those who consider themselves “very” religious. Fiftyeight percent of Americans had described themselves that way in 2007.

Now, just 41 percent do. The number of those who feel “somewhat” religious has drifted downward from 28 percent in 2007 to 25 percent today.

But those who say they’re either “not too” or “not at all” religious has more than doubled over the past decade Father Ryan continued from page A12

Deacon DeGaetano said. “So that’s where we had the vestments drying out for about two to three weeks.”

Once dried, the garments were then individually vacuumed-sealed in bags for preservation.

Getting the vestments and other items from Father Ryan’s grave to their current location in the basilica wasn’t easy given the environmental concerns that surfaced.

On July 27, the second day of the exhumation, a medical doctor on site suspected the possible presence of arsenic inside the coffin. Arsenic is a toxic heavy metal and was often used to embalm bodies in the 19th century, before the hazards of using it were understood. Diocesan Chancellor Deacon Sean Smith immediately contacted state environmental officials and reached out to EnSafe, a Memphis-based environmental engineering, health and safety, and technology company he had previously worked for in its Knoxville office.

EnSafe professionals Mike Palmer, Deb Halcrow, and Jennifer Mayfield arrived at Mount Olivet Cemetery from Knoxville on Wednesday morning, July 28, and under extremely difficult conditions, with temperatures at or above 100 degrees, donned protective suits and

A24 n JANUARY 2, 2022

and a half, from 16 percent to 33 percent.

The trend lines maintained themselves on the religiosity question even after Pew switched from a randomdigit-dial protocol to find survey respondents, which ended in 2019, to its National Public Opinion Reference Survey, which debuted in 2020.

Mr. Smith cautioned against concluding that trend lines are accelerating, but said their progression is unmistakable.

“If I were to just drop down from outer space and (be) given only those two data points, I’d say that the results from 2021 look very similar to the results from 2020,” he said. “But that’s the value of having these longterm trends. We can look over these

14 years, 15 years, and we can see the trend lines moving very consistently in a single direction. We can say, ‘Look, here are the long-term trends.’”

Thirty-five percent of Catholics say they go to Mass at least monthly, with Hispanics outpacing whites, 36 percent to 33 percent. But those numbers are dwarfed by the 46 percent of Protestants who say they attend services at least monthly.

Catholics straddle the halfway mark about how often they pray — 51 percent say they pray daily — while 48 percent say religion is very important in their lives. Of this 48 percent, 54 percent of Hispanic Catholics say this is true for them, versus 41 percent of their white

counterparts.

While a combined 29 percent of those surveyed profess no specific religious identity, the percentage of those who say they’re “nothing in particular” (20 percent) is more than double the combined percentage of atheists and agnostics (9 percent).

The Pew survey interviewed 3,937 Americans who responded either on paper or online. Mr. Smith said it was part of a larger survey that asked about tech issues and political partisanship, but “these were the only religion questions on that survey.”

The margin of error for the entire respondent group is plus or minus 2.1 percent. Among the 860 Catholics surveyed, the margin of error is plus or minus 4.5 percent. ■

spent all day cleaning artifacts, including the remains of Father Ryan.

They were joined that evening

by EnSafe staff members Ian Davis, David Brown, and Kellen Finn to complete the arduous task.

Later that night, after more than 12 hours of work, all the historic artifacts were cleaned and placed in the coffin designated for their repose.

That detailed cleaning was vital for the preservation of the possible second- and third-class relics from Father Ryan.

Third-class relics are items that have touched or are touched to either a first- or second-class relic.

“That even touching the things that touched the holy things is a transfer of spiritual goodness, right, a connection with this holy person whose body will participate in the resurrection of the just on the last day,” Father Carter said. “We know that because they’re canonized saints. Now, again, we’re not talking specifically about Father Patrick Ryan, because he’s not been declared as such, but we hope he will be, and we’re getting ready for the day when he will be, so that we can say, well, we got the relics.”

Holy cards for Father Ryan are available in the entryway of the basilica, containing a small piece of

cloth adhered to the card.

“I made new third-class relics before we closed up his new coffin, after he was vested. I laid sheets in there and then those have been chopped up,” Deacon DeGaetano said.

The new casket, provided by Chattanooga Funeral Home, contains the original coffin Father Ryan was buried in, as well as his individually sealed garments.

“Chattanooga Funeral Home… gave us a lot of assistance and transportation and also gave us this casket and then the one that’s in the tomb up front with his remains,” Deacon DeGaetano said.

Red ribbons wrap around the casket, with a seal from the bishop imprinted on the top to indicate the contents are true and have not been tampered with, in accordance with canon law.

As the sainthood process for Father Ryan continues, there are plans on how to honor and showcase the someday-saint in the basilica room where the casket and garments reside.

“We’ll probably make that into a historical display, a room where you can go in and see these second-class relics. We wouldn’t necessarily call them that, at this point, but that’s

what they will eventually be,” Father Carter explained.

“We could tell the story of his life and put pictures and timelines and display these things. That would be eventually what we want to do with that,” he added.

“His presence in the Church has definitely been to the benefit of the faithful of Chattanooga, the inspiration of faith amongst the people of Chattanooga, and our parish in particular, and to really hold up that, yes, God is still at work, and God is still raising people up to follow him and to allow grace to transform them into holy and good things,” Father Carter said.

Until the vestments are displayed, the faithful are welcome to visit and pray in front of Father Ryan’s tomb, located in the front of the nave on the right side, directly below the Fourteenth Station of the Cross: Jesus is laid in the tomb.

“That was his last wish—bury me among my people, was his dying wish. So now we’ve kind of brought him back and entombed him there,” Father Carter said. “This priest who had exemplified, in a heroic way, closeness to his people, even to the point of sharing their illness and death, that he can now be close to us in this place.” ■

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