ALLENTOWN (PA)
The Morning Call
July 2, 2019
By Paul Muschick
The Catholic church clergy sex abuse scandal has claimed new victims — employees who were let go or suffered other consequences because the church finally had to compensate victims.
The Allentown Diocese announced Monday that it has cut operating costs and is reducing its office work force by 24 percent. Pay freezes were instituted and departments were restructured.
A news release said the changes were necessary so the diocese could “continue its charitable and pastoral mission throughout its five counties while freeing up funds to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse.”
Most of the 23-person reduction occurred through attrition, including a voluntary retirement program, the diocese said. A spokesman wouldn’t disclose how many workers were laid off.
I feel for people who lost their jobs or suffered other repercussions. But if they’re looking for someone to blame, don’t blame the abuse victims who filed claims and were compensated. Blame church officials for not heading off this problem decades ago.
Remember, the diocese could sell assets and borrow money. Those were other sources it said it could tap when it opened the compensation fund in April. The diocese doesn’t have to make its staff bear the brunt.
It also could cut back on the charitable services it provides. That’s a tough choice, and could create even more victims — the aid recipients who don’t get the help they need. But it’s an option.
Allentown and other Pennsylvania dioceses created compensation funds in response to a grand jury report released last summer that detailed sexual abuse accusations against 301 priests statewide who had abused hundreds of children over several decades.
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