CATHOLIC DIOCESE Budget cuts force the layoff of 11 employees

The sexual abuse scandal is one factor for falling donations, a spokeswoman said.
TOLEDO (AP) -- Declining revenue and rising health care costs are forcing the Toledo Roman Catholic Diocese to lay off 11 workers and cut programs as it slashes $600,000 from its $6.7 million budget.
Church officials blame falling donations from its 314,000 parishioners, a drop in investment income and a decline in the assessments parishes are charged.
"The state of the economy, coupled with other factors, has had a significant effect on voluntary contributions," Bishop Leonard Blair said.
Among those other factors is the ongoing sexual abuse scandal involving clergy.
"I'm sure some people are not giving because of that," said Sally Oberski, a diocese spokeswoman.
But church officials say payments to abuse victims and legal fees are not causing layoffs.
"If there had been no payments, we would still be cutting spending," said the Rev. Michael Billian, also a spokesman for the 19-county diocese.
Settlements
On March 31, the diocese reached settlements with 12 people who sued over allegations of sex abuse. One lawyer said the settlements totaled hundreds of thousands of dollars. At least 11 other lawsuits are pending in Lucas County Common Pleas Court.
The layoffs will affect workers in pastoral ministry, schools and Catholic charities. The employees will receive severance packages and health insurance for three months.
The diocese has 212 employees, Oberski said.
Blair, in Rome to meet with Pope John Paul II, said the diocese raised 72 percent of its $3.7 million goal for the annual financial appeal even though just 16 percent of parishioners have contributed.
"This is a difficult decision, especially inasmuch as it touches very directly the livelihood of the employees involved," he said.