ERLANGER (KY)
Cincinnati Enquirer
By Jim Hannah
Enquirer staff writer
ERLANGER - The Covington Diocese said Friday that it plans to lay off 23 percent of the Catholic Center staff this summer as it continues to cut costs while paying out millions to settle sexual-abuse claims.
The 15 employees to be laid off June 30 are among 65 full- and part-time employees at the Catholic Center, a sprawling campus of buildings off Donaldson Road that serves as home to 26 administrative and pastoral offices.
The diocesan newspaper, The Messenger, published an article Friday saying the "actions are necessary in light of the financial situation of the diocese." Diocesan spokesman and Messenger editor Tim Fitzgerald wouldn't elaborate on what financial situation Bishop Roger Foys was referring to in the article.
The Messenger article chronicled how much had been spent to settle 55 sexual-abuse claims since September 2003. The total amount of those settlements was $10.5 million. The diocese's insurance paid $6.5 million toward the settlements.
The diocese paid the remaining amount, which almost matches what the diocese has previously reported as its annual revenue.
Posted by kshaw at March 5, 2005 08:56 AM