OAKLAND (CA)
Alameda Times-Star
By Angela Hill, STAFF WRITER
OAKLAND — The Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland has laid off 17 administrative employees in its chancery offices to help cover a $1.2 million budget deficit.
Church officials say the deficit was caused in part by costs related to a $23 million loan the diocese took out last year to pay settlements in sexual abuse cases.
All 17 eliminated positions are in the main diocese offices on Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland, said the Rev. Mark Wiesner, who serves as diocesan spokesman.
Friday's layoffs did not directly affect Catholic schools or cemeteries run by the diocese, the Catholic Voice church newspaper or Catholic Charities, which all run under separate operating budgets from that of the chancery offices.