Area dioceses address money issues for clergy

Benefits for priests vary from diocese to diocese.
By D.A. WILKINSON
VINDICATOR RELIGION EDITOR
YOUNGSTOWN -- The boss calls you in and says you're fired.
That's bad news financially if it's just one job, but it's worse if it's the end of your career.
That's the scenario facing some priests in the Youngstown, Erie and Pittsburgh dioceses who are accused of sexually abusing children.
American bishops adopted a policy Friday that would bar sexually abusive clergy from contact with parishioners but keep them in the priesthood. Abusers also can be removed from the priesthood, but it would be up to the presiding bishop.
The Rev. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the Pittsburgh diocese, said Bishop Donald Wuerl has already told his priests that whatever happens, "they won't be put out on the street."
The Youngstown diocese has accepted resignations from five priests because of abuse allegations. The Pittsburgh and Erie dioceses have not announced the number of priests they have removed.
Each diocese sets its own rules, although the conference plan could become a national policy if the Vatican approves it.
Generally, a priest receives a salary. In the Erie Diocese, that salary is about $14,000 a year, according to spokesman Monsignor Robert Smith. The diocese includes Mercer County.
Benefits
Priests also receive free housing and food. They also get medical benefits, a pension, and Social Security benefits.
Father Lengwin said priests in the Pittsburgh diocese buy their own vehicles and clothes. That diocese includes Lawrence County.
Any income priests make, such as by teaching or writing, or through stipends they receive for saying Mass, is theirs to keep. So is any inheritance.
But if a priest is defrocked -- removed from the priesthood by the church -- or decides to leave the priesthood -- a process called laitization -- he loses all church support except the pension, said Monsignor Smith.
Father Lengwin said that in a few instances of priests' leaving, he knew of the diocese's spending money on job retraining. The father said he had never heard of a priest receiving the severance package common in corporate America.
Bishops' concern
Younger priests defrocked over abuse allegations may be able to find other jobs. But older priests who are defrocked may have trouble finding work or housing, some bishops fear.
Monsignor Smith noted the church has an obligation to protect children. But when it comes to abusive priests, he added, it becomes a matter of justice and the church's message of compassion.
"It's a balancing act," the monsignor said.
Defrocked priests have to take the consequences for their actions but may find help at the church, the monsignor added.
Jeffrey Ervin, the parole services coordinator at the local office of the Ohio Adult Parole Authority, is no stranger to helping older men with limited money and a troubled past.
The parole authority turns to Catholic Charities and the Rescue Mission of the Mahoning Valley, among others, to help provide housing, clothing and other need and community health programs.
"St. Elizabeth's [Health Center] is the hospital of choice," said Ervin, because its mission includes serving the needy.
The retention of abusive priests with reduced ministries or living restrictions could take a wide variety of forms, said the spokesmen.
From the ministry standpoint, a priest could be banned from even saying Mass for just himself, or could be limited to saying it privately, such as before a cloistered order of nuns.
Economic support
The economic support from the diocese would take as many forms, said the monsignor and Father Lengwin.
Bishop Thomas J. Tobin of the Youngstown diocese did not respond to a letter from The Vindicator asking about pay for accused priests. The diocese did not return a call requesting information for this story.
wilkinson@vindy.com