The Legacy of Father Dollar Bill

Last updated on: May 9, 2013 at 12:04 pm by Tony Rossi

The Legacy of Father Dollar Bill 2013-05-09T12:04:30-05:00 Tony Rossi

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The following column was written by Jerry Costello:

“You don’t have to solve all the world’s problems,” the priest told his parishioners. “But don’t ignore them, either. Do what you can to improve things, even a little bit. That’s what Jesus wants us to do.”

That’s good, sound advice. And each time I hear something like it I think back to Father Dollar Bill, a priest I remember from Los Angeles. That wasn’t his real name, of course; it was Father Maurice Chase. But everybody knew him as Father Dollar Bill. Especially the people in the city’s most desperate neighborhoods, along Skid Row, where he’d give out those bills to all takers, as long as the money would last.

When he died a couple of years ago, in his nineties, the obituaries would criticize his brand of charity, complaining that it had no “long-term impact” on its beneficiaries. Father Dollar Bill would just smile and keep handing out the money when he heard that kind of complaint. One obit, by Ian Lovett in The New York Times, explained why that was so, quoting Father Chase himself.

Knowing full well that a dollar bill wouldn’t get someone off the street, Father Chase–or Father Dollar Bill, if you prefer–explained, “I’m trying to give them hope. To give them a sense of dignity.”

Even his critics, acknowledging that many people spent the money in an unhealthy way, could see the sense of that approach. “I think his desire to bring people love was true, and can certainly be modeled by the rest of us,” said the Rev. Andy Bales, chief executive of the Union Rescue Mission.

Father Chase, ordained in 1953 by then-Msgr. Fulton Sheen–later an archbishop and even then a world-famous preacher–was a veteran of fund-raising efforts in Southern California, for a time assisting the president of Loyola Marymount University. He began giving away cash to poor people in the 1980s, using money he had raised himself. At one point he would raise and give away about $100,000 a year, relying for help on the celebrities he knew–people like Bob and Dolores Hope, and Bob Newhart.

“He was just a glorious man,” said one woman who had spent two decades on Skid Row. “He was always there.”

Father Chase acquired his nickname because he usually gave away singles. But that wasn’t always the case, especially around major holidays, when fives and even hundreds would find their way into the hands of eager recipients.

He continued making his weekly trips to Skid Row almost until he died. “I love it,” he said. “God has given me the happiest part of my life at the end.”

It was on the street that word of his death spread quickly. “Dollar Man is dead,” one man said. Another mourned, “He will be missed, not because of the dollar. Because of what he offered me spiritually.”

The man known as Father Dollar Bill cheerfully acknowledged that his was an imperfect charity. But he met the test of the priest mentioned above, the one who advised his parishioners to improve things even a little bit. That’s what Father Maurice Chase did, and he did it with a style and a love for the poor that won’t be easily forgotten

Previous Post

May 3, 2013

Actress Bonnie Hunt's Brother and a Catholic Priest Are Saving Lives in Uganda

Next Post

May 10, 2013 A Christopher Prayer for Mother's Day

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Act One American Idol Andy Griffith Show Audrey Assad Baseball Bible Books Catholic Charities Christmas Christopher Awards Christopher Closeup Christopher News Notes Current Events Down syndrome Education Father Jonathan Morris Father Keller Films Forgiveness Fringe Government Hallmark History Holidays Humor Inspiration Leadership Lost Marriage Media Medical Military Movies Music NY Med Once Upon a Time Once Upon a Time Parenting Patheos Movie Club Person of Interest Politics Pope Francis Prayer Pro Life Saints Senior Citizens Signed Sealed Delivered Special Needs Sports Three Minutes a Day TV Uncategorized Volunteering Women Youth

Select a Month March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

True or False: Paul instructed Titus that the grace of God teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions.

Select your answer to see how you score.

TRUE FALSE