Birth Control? Not... Fiscal Control? Never.

When people are easily talked into the cloistered life to revel in its isolation and self-deprivation, time is on your side. But when such is no longer the case, whatever the reason, you're in trouble. According to one consulting firm the Catholic Church is facing a deficit of more than "$20 billion by 2023" in the U.S., due mostly to the impending need to care for its "tens of thousands of nuns over age 70," in addition to the elderly brothers, priests, and their associated upkeep as well ($1 billion to settle sexual abuse cases since 1950, for example). But the news is worse than simple projections:

A June survey by the church's National Religious Retirement Office, not yet released to the public, puts spending for retiree care at $926 million last year alone. That compares with a total of $499 million received over the last 18 years from annual special parish collections to aid retirees.

Thankfully, there's people like Sister Andree Fries, the 64-year-old executive director of the U.S. retirement office:

"...the impact is more minimal than one might think" because members of orders "are very much about mission" and not worrying about their future needs. Also, orders are "spending their future retirement money for current bills" so they are not uncomfortable at the moment.

For the whole sordid story, click here.