The Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester finished with a small
operating surplus during the last fiscal year but pension obligations to
retired priests remains a concern.Church officials said Thursday the $122,000 surplus for the year that ended Aug. 31 reflects a recent trend in which its financial ledger has come close to being balanced.
The nearly balanced budget resulted from almost $1.3 million worth of cuts in expenses across all departments.
Chancery officials lauded the "tight financial controls" that managers have been using to keep costs down.
Bishop Robert McManus says the diocese's annual audit showed that church officials were being "good stewards" of donations.
The Telegram & Gazette reports that clergy retirement programs operated at a loss of more than $715,000, much for nursing or specialized care.