Archdiocese of Chicago: $40M deficit last fiscal year, at least $120M over past 4 years
March 04, 2013
In his new archdiocesan newspaper column, Cardinal Francis George of Chicago stated that “for the fiscal year ending June 2012, the Pastoral Center Operations of the Archdiocese had cash operating revenue of approximately $49 million to cover a total cash expense base of about $89 million, leading to a $40 million cash operating deficit for the year.”
Cardinal George explained:
The revenue of the Pastoral Center consists primarily of parish assessments, the Annual Catholic Appeal donations, interest income and bequests. Of the $89 million in expenses, approximately $47 million went to support the ministerial and administrative services of the Pastoral Center offices, and about $44 million went to support needy parishes and schools for their operating and capital needs; these expenses were offset by $2 million of net positive contributions from our related institutions (e.g., our seminaries, our Liturgical Training Publications group) … Of the total aid of $44 million in 2012, approximately $22 million went to support school operations, $4 million went to support church operations, and $18 million provided capital support for both churches and schools. While providing aid to needy parishes and schools is basic to our shared Archdiocesan mission, we obviously cannot sustain funding at these levels.
“Administrative Operations have run operating deficits of more than $30 million in each of the past four years,” he added, noting that “the deficits that have been incurred over the past several years do not include any payments related to misconduct.”
The archdiocese’s plan for addressing the deficits includes “helping our Catholic schools become financially secure,” “bringing new life to parishes that are not presently self-sufficient,” and “reducing the costs of the Pastoral Center Operations of the Archdiocese.”
“We have reduced staff by a total of 75 positions, 60 through a reduction in-force and 15 by not filling vacant positions,” Cardinal George said.
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Posted by: Minnesota Mary -
Mar. 04, 2013 7:49 PM ET USA
A poor Church will be a holier Church!
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Posted by: unum -
Mar. 04, 2013 7:09 PM ET USA
Cardinal George says, "The archdiocese’s plan for addressing the deficits includes “helping our Catholic schools become financially secure,” “bringing new life to parishes that are not presently self-sufficient,” and “reducing the costs of the Pastoral Center Operations of the Archdiocese.” Hope is a virtue, but it is not a plan.
