A SECOND diocese rocked by the clerical sex abuse scandal has admitted it is under "extreme" financial pressure.
On
Wednesday, the Archdiocese of Dublin said a fall in donations and the
cost of settling abuse claims meant it was near financial collapse.
Thursday, the Diocese of Cloyne said it was also struggling to make ends meet.
In
a statement, the diocese said it had sold property and used cash
reserves to meet day-to-day expenses, but those options were now "almost
exhausted".
Just last month the Murphy Report investigating the
diocese's handling of abuse allegations sharply criticised Bishop John
Magee after it found he falsely told the State and the HSE that the church was reporting all abuse allegations to civil authorities.
It
also found that he had misled another inquiry by creating two different
accounts of a meeting with a priest-suspect, one for the Vatican and
the other for diocesan files.
The Irish Independent
contacted each diocese in the country and asked if they were under
financial pressure.
Seven admitted that resources were stretched, with
Cloyne saying it depended on weekly collections to make ends meet.
"The
finances of the diocese of Cloyne have come under extreme pressure from
a number of sources over the past few years," it said in a statement.
Reserves
"While
in the past the diocese has sold property and used reserves in order to
meet its commitments, this option is almost exhausted.
"Ultimately
the diocese and each parish depend on the generosity of the faithful in
the weekly collections and other contributions for the funding of our
activities and the meeting of our commitments. We are continually
grateful for their generosity and support."
Falling numbers at
Mass, a drop in donations and settlements with abuse victims means
dioceses across the country are also under pressure.
* Ardagh and Clonmacnoise said the recession had an affect on finances, but that it was not linked with abuse cases.
* In Galway, there was "definitely" a fall in donations and "some of it will have been an effect of the abuse cases".
* Collections in Kilmore are falling, while Monaghan has "limited financial resources".
* Tuam said its finances were "not an issue of concern".
* Limerick said it had cut spending, adding there had been a fall in collections.
* Meath
said its accounts were being prepared.
* Ferns, Waterford and others were
not in a position to respond to requests for information.
* Kildare and Leighlin said it had cut spending, but recorded a surplus of €11,000 last year.