Inspector Truths Rumour Files:

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Rumours have been running rampant about the Canadian Clergy's newly established "self-administered" health and benefits fund. As it appears, the Diocese of Canada has entered the insurance business and secured a sure fire benefits strategy for its Clergy, which at the same time ensures revenues for the Diocese for its own benefit.

However, appearances are deceptive. As it turns out, the Diocesan "self-administered" Health Fund is so "insecure" that it has led a Church School Congregation to incorporate itself in order to protect its Trustees from exposed liabilities.

Inspector Truth has been hard on the case to uncover just what has happened here. Following extensive investigative work, the Inspector has found that in January 2004, the Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Davor Milicevic, sent a letter to the Canadian Clergy advising them that insurance rates were rising and that if they did not want to be left without insurance, they should come together and "self-administer" a fund that would in fact increase revenues for the Diocese. This option was never discussed with the Diocesan Council or Assembly, or the various Church School Congregations, even though they are responsible to pay for such insurance and are liable for their respective clergy. At the same time, Mr. Milicevic acknowledges that in order to deal with the risk of a lack of funds due to "unexpected events", these funds would be made up from the various Church School Congregations.

Following a long and exhaustive investigation, Inspector Truth was finally able to secure the actual agreement that was signed by the Canadian Clergy. Even the Inspector was a bit surprised when he first read the agreement and realized that it stated explicitly that any financial shortfall would be made up by the Church School Congregations. This is confirmed by the fact that a shortfall did occur and the Diocese sought to make up the shortfall by requesting additional funds from the Church School Congregations.

Inspector Truth will be forwarding this file to higher authorities, however he can say without hesitation that the Diocese committed insurance fraud. The difficult question for the Inspector is what role the Clergy played in this affair. Are they co-conspiritors in fraud, or are they simply the victims of extortion? The Inspector is still asking himself this question.