The Diocesan Finance Council plays an important role in Diocesan operations and decisions. The role of the Finance Council is to provide oversight of the Finance Office and assist the Bishop in an advisory capacity on temporal affairs. The Diocesan Finance Council also has the responsibilities of preparing the annual Diocesan budget and accepting the annual financial report.
A Diocesan Finance Council is required by Canon Law in every diocese. The council also serves to strengthen accountability and ensure that good financial practices are in place and followed.
Members of the Diocesan Finance Council must be Catholics in good standing with the Church. Canon law requires that they be “truly expert in financial affairs and civil law, outstanding in integrity.” (c. 492, § 1)
Annually, the Diocesan bishop will present a Statement of Income and Expenses and a Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position) to the Diocesan Finance Council for all entities under the sponsorship of the Ordinary after the close of the fiscal year. At the end of the Diocese’s fiscal period, the Diocesan Finance Council will review the Diocese’s audited financial statements with the independent auditor.
Members of the Diocesan Finance Council are appointed for a five year term and are eligible for re-appointment for a second five year term.
The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, Bishop of Scranton, has delegated the role of Finance Council Chairperson to Robert Miller, Diocesan Secretary for Finance. Below is a list of all current members of the Diocesan Finance Council in the Diocese of Scranton:
Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L.
Bishop of Scranton
Carlon Preate (3rd term on Council as of 2021)
BS Accounting University of Scranton
MBA New York University
CPA, Retired
John Graham (3rd term on Council as of 2021)
Bachelors in Finance Lehigh University
Founder/President, Comfort Designs
Founder/President, King Glass of NEPA
Initial Investor Group Member, First Heritage Bank, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Reverend Gerald Shantillo (1st term on Council as of 2021)
Bachelors in Business Administration and Accounting Bloomsburg University
Masters in Business Administration – Finance Binghamton University
Former Healthcare Finance Executive – served as Accountant, Controller, Chief Financial Officer and COO
Sister Therese O’Rourke (2nd term on Council as of 2021)
Special Projects Coordinator for Friends of the Poor
Licensed Social Worker
Masters Degree in Education
John Devine (2nd term on Council as of 2021)
BS Public Affairs and Administration, university of Scranton
Vice President BCM Engineers / ATC Group Services LLC.
Former Business Administrator/ Deputy Mayor for City of Scranton
Paul Woelkers (2nd term on Council as of 2021)
Radiologic Technologist
President / CEO Lackawanna Mobile X-Ray, Inc
When the value of Diocesan property whose alienation is proposed falls within the minimum and maximum amounts defined by the conference of bishops for its own region, permission is needed from the Diocesan bishop with the consent of the Diocesan Finance Council and the College of Consultors and those concerned (canon 1292, § 1 of the Code of Canon Law).
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops approved complementary legislation for the implementation of canon 1292 for the dioceses of the United States, after review by the Holy See, which sets the minimum and maximum amounts. For a diocese the population of the Diocese of Scranton, currently the minimum amount is $250,000 and the maximum amount is $3,500,000.
Additionally, the permission of the Holy See is required for the valid alienation of goods whose value exceeds the maximum amount (currently $3,500,000).