BOSTON (MA)
Boston Herald
By Brian Ballou
Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - Updated: 08:07 AM EST
With parishioners angered by the clergy sexual-abuse scandal, donations to the Archdiocese of Boston's annual fund-raiser had been diminishing, but churchgoers are once again warming up to the church and giving freely.
``We are very grateful to the many donors who have returned to the appeal, and we are delighted to welcome the new donors who joined us in 2004,'' said Archbishop Sean P. O'Malley yesterday during the kickoff of the 2005 Catholic Appeal campaign. Church collections will begin this weekend and run throughout the year.
According to the archdiocese, 20 percent of parishioners who did not donate to the appeal in 2003 returned in 2004. Last year's$11 million tally exceeded the previous year by almost $700,000. Of the 54,000 parishioners who made donations in 2004, 12 percent were new contributors. And this year, the church is looking to take in $12 million.