Philadelphia archdiocese seeks new funding for World Meeting of Families
June 06, 2012
The Philadelphia archdiocese will seek new private donations to underwrite the 8th World Meeting of Families in 2015, Archbishop Charles Chaput has indicated.
The financial resources of the archdiocese have been strained in recent months by the sex-abuse scandal. The archbishop has estimated that in the past year, costs for the investigation of new abuse charges will exceed $10 million.
Despite those economic difficulties, however, Archbishop Chaput welcomed the announcement that the Philadelphia archdiocese will host the next international gathering of the World Meeting of Families, with Pope Benedict expected to attend. "God is giving us an opportunity to have some good news in a difficult time,” he said.
The archbishop acknowledged that the financial circumstances of the archdiocese might force organizers to trim their expectations about the size of the international event. Last week's 7th World Meeting of Families, held in Milan, drew over 1 million people to the concluding Mass.
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Further information:
- Chaput: Priest sex-abuse scandal to cost more than $11 million (Philadelphia Inquirer)
- Philadelphia will host 2015 World Meeting of Families; Pope expected (CWN, 6/4)
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