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	Archdiocese Reports It Broke Even for First Time since 2003 By Lisa Wangsness Boston Globe April 14, 2011 http://articles.boston.com/2011-04-14/news/29418380_1_archdiocese-abuse-crisis-parishes The Archdiocese of Boston reported this afternoon that it balanced its $29.8 million budget last year for the first time since Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley arrived in 2003, and church leaders say they are making progress in addressing financial concerns created by a sour economy and the clergy sexual abuse crisis. Collections from parishioners held steady, despite the sluggish economy. Investment income increased. And a new financial system, designed to help parishes raise more money and share it with the archdiocese, was off to a promising start in the 33 parishes that volunteered to try it. Still, the annual report on the archdiocese's fiscal health suggests significant financial challenges remain. One-third of parishes are operating in the red -- the same proportion as in fiscal 2009. Contributions to the archdiocese's big annual fund-raising drive declined. And many parishes had to cut spending to stay solvent. The Rev. Richard M. Erikson, vicar general of the archdiocese, called the balanced budget "an extraordinary achievement" and said that although the archdiocese faces a host of difficulties, financial and otherwise, it is working on many fronts to find solutions. It has launched a campaign aimed at bringing non-practicing Catholics back to church, for example, and it is studying ways to cope with a severe shortage of priests. "That type of focus was not possible several years ago when the diocese was doing crisis management," Erikson said. The archdiocese trimmed its expenses, laying off 11 employees and leaving nine other positions unfilled, and archdiocesan employees received no cost of living raise for the fourth year in a row. But the highest-paid officials in the archdiocese -- those earning more than $100,000 a year -- saw the salary reductions they took last year because of the recession restored. The archdiocese also said it settled 30 sexual abuse cases last year, three more than in fiscal 2009, and spent $2.1 million on settlements with victims. Today's report, which covers the fiscal year that ended last July 1, is posted on the archdiocese's website, bostoncatholic.org, and contains a variety of information about the financial health of the archdiocese. The archdiocese releases reports annually as part of its commitment to greater transparency in the aftermath of the abuse crisis.
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