Angry Buriram residents call for ouster of abbot for running pico finance

[webfact]

Angry residents call for ouster of abbot for running pico finance

By Thai PBS

 

 

Angry residents of Kumuang district of Buriram yesterday (Nov 7) called on the district’s monk dean to remove the abbot of Wat Nongbon, accusing him of running pico finance.

 

They claimed in the letter submitted to the monk dean of Kumuang district that the abbot, Phra Atikarn Sompong, runs Pico finance which is a violation of the Buddhist principles.

 

The monk dean was at Wat Nongbon to calm down the angry residents who demanded the removal of the abbot and those who supported him.

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/angry-residents-call-ouster-abbot-running-pico-finance/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2017-11-07

[webfact]

Abbot in Buri Ram to face probe for lending temple money

By The Nation

 

The Buri Ram monastic chief will set up a committee to investigate an abbot following complaints by local Buddhists that he had provided loans to villagers.

 

Phra Mongkol Suttakij, secretary to the Buri Ram monastic chief, said on Thursday an investigatory committee would be established after his office receives a report from the Khu Muang monastic district and a letter from the Office of National Buddhism.

 

The secretary said his office had learned about the complaints against Phra Atikarn Sompong, the abbot of Wat Nong Khu Bon in Khu Mueang district, after about 100 villagers rallied for his removal.

 

The villagers said the abbot had behaved improperly by using temple money to provide Bt5,000 to Bt30,000 loans to villagers and collecting 3-per-cent interest per month. They said the monk’s actions lacked transparency in the management of the temple’s money.

 

Phra Mongkol said monastic rules did not prohibit monks from lending money but the abbot’s behaviour might have been inappropriate, affecting people’s faith and damaging the religion’s reputation.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/breakingnews/30331216

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-09

[colinneil]

The Abbots behavior might be affecting peoples faith and damaging the religions reputation.

Bit late for that the damage has already been done, many times over by the many crooked monks dipping temple funds.

[Nemesis7]

Really? Daily news's about monks being drunk, flying jets, abusing boys and now lending Temple donation money to earn business, simply brilliant faith.

[klauskunkel]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Phra Mongkol said monastic rules did not prohibit monks from lending money but the abbot’s behaviour might have been inappropriate

Monastic rules also don't prohibit monks from being idiots, demonstrated by Phra Mongkol's comment.

[Jonmarleesco]

7 hours ago, colinneil said:

The Abbots behavior might be affecting peoples faith and damaging the religions reputation.

Bit late for that the damage has already been done, many times over by the many crooked monks dipping temple funds.

Among other quaint practices.

[henry15]

3% intrest a month ??????,  this man is a loanshark

[phantomfiddler]

Is there any faith left in the behavior of Thai Buddhist monks ? I think not ! Money is the only consideration from what I have seen, plus other bad habits normally associated with low-life

[connda]

Buddhism's descent away from the dharma never fails to amuse me.  But every day it get's worse.