Boston – The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston opened its books on Wednesday, releasing what experts and church officials say is the most detailed financial accounting any diocese has made available.
The reports show that the archdiocese has a $46 million deficit, the largest any diocese has ever had, say two national experts on church finances. The archdiocese has paid out more than $150 million in legal settlements related to accusations of sexual abuse by priests.
Archdiocesan officials said they planned to address the deficit in part by cutting 50 administrative positions, consolidating departments, reducing the number of cabinet secretaries and most likely selling more property and cutting programs.
Cardinal Sean O’Malley and other officials made it clear that they also hoped that the frankness of the report would inspire parishioners to increase donations, which have fallen off by several million dollars since the abuse crisis began in 2002.
“I think it’s quite obvious that our situation is urgent, is dire,” O’Malley said at a news conference. “The bleeding that’s been going on with deficit spending is something that needs to be dealt with urgently.”
O’Malley, who will distribute pamphlets about the finances in every parish, said he hoped that as a result of the report, released a few weeks before the major annual archdiocesan fundraising drive, “people will understand what our finances are and how we’re using it, and hopefully will want to help us continue the mission of the church.”
The cardinal said that a key to instilling confidence in parishioners was releasing information about the costs of the sexual-abuse crisis and the sources of the money that paid for it.
Although archdiocesan officials have repeatedly said parish collections and other donations would not be used to pay for legal settlements to abuse victims, some parishioners have remained skeptical. They have also distrusted assurances that the money generated by the closing of 62 of the 357 parishes in the archdiocese would not finance the abuse settlements.
The new information sought to end those concerns. The reports showed that through June 30, $150.8 million was spent on the abuse crisis, including $127.4 million in legal settlements, $8.8 million in counseling and prevention programs and $8.3 million in legal fees.