Print friendly
The Dublin Archdiocese could be on the verge of financial collapse as it tries to manage the child abuse payouts.
Declining numbers of Catholics attending Mass and fewer donations are also significant contributing factors.
The Irish Catholic reports that reserves built up by the diocese have been spent.
A senior administrator for the archdiocese said to make no changes would have serious financial consequences.
Some of the suggested measures include:
- pay cuts for diocesan agencies and parish worker
- reassessment of all central administration positions
- parish-based levies on Catholic families
“Many of the parishes see no possibility in the immediate future of overcoming the debt, so it is certainly no exaggeration to imagine that the diocese might go bankrupt,” Deputy Editor of the Irish Catholic, Michael Kelly told UTV.
Payouts over child abuse compensation cases have totalled NZ$23m.
Financial disaster looms Kelly said, 55 cases are still pending and 55 people who allege abuse against Dublin priests still waiting for payouts.
“Well the child abuse payouts have eaten up any reserves that the diocese had or built up over the 20th century.
“One would have to imagine that there must be at least another NZ$10m or NZ$12m on that is going to have to be paid out on that at a time when funds are dwindling.”
“A lot of parishioners are very reluctant,” said Mr Kelly, “if they feel that their money is going to pay the crimes of others.”
Sources
- UTC
- BBC
- Irish Catholic
- Image: YLE Uutiset News
