Mahony Picks Executive to Handle Diocese’s Finances

Archbishop Roger Mahony announced Thursday that he has picked a Northern California business executive to head the financial operations of the Los Angeles Roman Catholic Archdiocese, the first time the job has not been assigned to a priest.

Following the recommendation of a blue-ribbon search committee, the archbishop named Jose A. Debasa, a native of Cuba, who was vice president for business and finance at the University of Santa Clara from 1974 to 1983 and chief operating officer of a private investment firm for the last two years.

The search for a finance officer for the archdiocese of 2.56 million Catholics, the nation’s most populous, became urgent upon the death Sept. 20 of Msgr. Benjamin Hawkes, the longtime vicar for finances. Hawkes, 66, was resigning from that position but intended to help his successor become acquainted with what was essentially a one-man operation.

“Monsignor (Hawkes) single-handedly supervised and promoted all aspects of the archdiocese’s finances and financial administration services,” Mahony said in a statement.

Earlier Job

“It is good to be back working for the Catholic Church,” said Debasa, refering to his earlier employment at the University of Santa Clara. He said he was responsible there for a $50-million annual operating budget and other funds and investments.

He currently is a partner and chief executive officer at Westland Investments, a diversified real estate investment company near San Jose with about $65 million in assets.

Debasa said he did not know the extent of the archdiocese’s budget and assets. Archdiocesan spokesmen were unable to give overall figures, partly because several corporations are contained within the three-county archdiocese. A study of its finances by The Times in 1982 estimated that its assets were valued then at $900 million.

An active Catholic, Debasa has been serving on the Finance Council for the San Jose diocese. He will begin full-time duties in Los Angeles on Feb. 1.

“The archbishop is a delightful person who knows what he wants,” Debasa said.

The appointment of a layman of Latino heritage is considered by many Catholics to be a trend that will be seen increasingly in Mahony’s appointments to key chancery positions. The prelate has indicated that he will involve more women, minorities and lay people in the archdiocese’s administration.

Not long after the Vatican named him last July as the new archbishop of Los Angeles, Mahony chose Father Lawrence Estrada as his personal secretary and aide. Mahony also said he would eventually select a nun for the new position of vicar for women religious (sisters).