The first thing I've noticed personally, based on a visit to the Newman group while it was in formation at Placentia, was that wine was served at parish functions. I now notice, based on visits to the parish Facebook page, that this practice continues, and I'm told that wine is routinely served during the period normally called "coffee hour" after 11 AM mass, to the extent that apparently some parishioners regard it as "wine hour".
Several Episcopal parishes I've observed, including my most recent one in Hollywood, have a strict no-alcohol-on-premises policy (excluding communion wine, of course). The rector of the Hollywood parish put it persuasively -- with so many people struggling with alcohol issues, it's simply irresponsible to have an environment in a church that enables abuse. But whatever the specific policy, I've simply never seen any parish in any denomination, other than this Newman group, that serves wine after the 11 AM mass. This group does, with plenty of toddlers and young children around. The liability issues are also apparent -- if you serve alcohol and someone has an auto accident afterward, you're on the hook.
Another issue that's been pointed out is that in the Newman group, there doesn't seem to be any distinction between parish activities and Bartus social events, with apparently one type just transitioning into the other. The problem is that would-be parishioners who don't conform to the favored yuppie demographic feel excluded from both. This situation is well within an ethical gray area, and as I've surmised here in the past, if people saw it at St Mary of the Angels while he was there, it would likely continue, and it apparently has.
Third, it appears that there isn't a clear distinction between gifts to Bartus personally and donations to the Newman group. My understanding is that Bartus has solicited donations for vestments, but it isn't entirely clear if the vestments become his personal property, or are the property of the Newman group. (A significant set appears to be his property.) Normally vestments belong to a parish and are kept in the sacristy, but with the group moving frequently and renting or borrowing space, ownership isn't clear. In addition, my understanding is that substantial monetary gifts have been made to the Bartus family. This is also well within an ethical gray area, and in many denominations, direct cash gifts to clergy are unethical.
Somehow an adult needs to take a close look at what's going on here, stop the "wine hour", and set clear boundaries over social activities, gifts, and donations. Requiring an accounting system for all Ordinariate groups is just a very minimal start to what needs to be done. Make it clear what things are; issue 1099s and W-2s for payments; issue receipts for gifts to the tax exempt entity. If the boundaries aren't clear in the Ordinariate, this is just one more reason I can't recommend that the St Mary of the Angels parish get involved.
Msgr Steenson, pay a little now or pay a lot later.
