SCRANTON (PA)
Scranton Times
BY CHRIS BIRK / STAFF WRITER 06/11/2005
Citing increased health care costs and diminished revenue streams, the Diocese of Scranton plans to slice about $800,000 from its 2005-06 budget through job cuts and a relocation of in-house funds.
The diocesan administrative budget has sustained a deficit each of the past three years, according to a news release issued Friday afternoon. The price of health care and underperforming stocks are driving the budget reduction, according to chancellor James B. Earley, but individual parishes in the 11-county diocese also play a role.
The planned $15.2 million budget will dip to about $14.4 million, about a 5.3 percent decrease.
"Contrary to the public belief that the church is rich and has an abundant amount of money, our sources of financial support are limited," Mr. Earley said in the release.
Seventy churches reached their goal last year for the Diocesan Annual Appeal; in 1999, 144 parishes, or 66 percent, hit their mark. The annual fundraiser supports a host of diocesan ministries and programs. ...
The Diocese of Scranton has spent $836,652 since 1950 in costs related to claims of clerical sexual abuse. The latest came last month, when the diocese agreed to pay $200,000 to settle a federal civil lawsuit filed by a former St. Gregory's Academy student.