Friday, September 04, 2009

Archdiocese losing $42K a day, set to make big cuts

The Archdiocese of Detroit announced major cuts today, slashing its central staff by 29% because of a $14.5-million operating deficit, a spokesman said.

It will reduce its central staff from 264 to 187, one of the biggest reductions in years, said Joe Kohn, an official with the Archdiocese.

The Archdiocese oversees 1.4 million Catholics in metro Detroit, the largest religious denomination in the region. But the slumping economy has taken its toll on the church's financial and property investments. And tithing is down from 5% to 10%, compared to previous years.

In a meeting today at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in downtown Detroit, Archbishop Allen Vigneron announced the changes.

The cuts will affect every department in the Archdiocese and are “pretty far reaching in its scope,” Kohn said.

The Archdiocese currently has an operating deficit of $1.2 million per month, losing $42,000 a day, Kohn said.

“We couldn’t go on existing as we currently do with those financial realities,” he said.

In the meeting, Vigneron spoke about the importance of the chruch’s mission.

“The mission of the church is to share Christ,” Kohn said, talking about Vigneron’s overall message. “Our financial realities dictated that we have to change the way we do things in order to continue to fulfill the church’s mission.”

The layoffs will take place through mid-November. The church plans to have a new organizations plan in effect by the start of next year. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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