BishopAccountability.org
	Diocesan Budget Woes The Berkshire Eagle April 1, 2010 http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_14797358?source=most_emailed The dramatic 40 percent budget cuts by the Catholic Diocese of Springfield to begin July 1 with the arrival of the new fiscal year come as the Church finds itself on the wrong side of the health care reform issue and with an abuse scandal enveloping the Vatican. The poor state and national economy is undeniably hurting the diocese, but declining donations cannot be attributed solely to the economy. As was the case when the Church hierarchy involved itself in the political firestorm over gay marriage and opposed its institution in Massachusetts, the Church took sides in the health care reform debate. Focusing narrowly on abortion funding, it failed to back a proposal that by guaranteeing insurance for all would help needy residents. While some Church leaders softened their opposition in the days before passage, and nuns' groups were supportive, the leadership should have been a vocal advocate of a bill that is now law. The diocese asserts that settlements paid to victims of clergy abuse have not been a major factor in the deficit because they were covered in large part by insurance, but as long as some settlements remain sealed it will be impossible to determine exactly how much money the diocese paid out. The clergy scandal, however, is less about dollars and cents than about a loss of trust, and a dollar sign cannot be put on that. No amount of money paid to settle the pedophile priest scandals that have ensnared Pope Benedict XVI because of his actions or lack of same when he was archbishop of Munich and later the head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith will address the irreparable damage done to the church over the decades by its own hierarchy. We hope at least that the diocese will not be forced to close any more Berkshire County churches. Local Catholics have endured enough.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.