Diocese of Scranton adds collection to boost priests' benefits

by laura legere (staff writer)
Published: June 23, 2009

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The Diocese of Scranton announced this weekend the start of a new monthly collection to help pay for the retirement, education and health care costs of priests.

In flyers tucked into parish bulletins on Father's Day, the diocese outlined the widening gap between the rising costs of clergy care and education and the insufficient funds available to pay for those programs.

Bishop Joseph F. Martino said a second collection to be held at Masses on the first weekend of every month will be used to cover what he called the "enormous" costs of training and care, which are currently not fully met by ordinary diocesan revenues.

In the 2008-2009 fiscal year, the diocese is $1.8 million short of the $8.6 million needed to pay for clergy care and education, according to diocesan figures. Parish assessments and funds raised through the diocesan annual appeal contributed $6.8 million for those programs.

Bishop Martino said the new monthly collection "seems to be the most effective and understandable way to meet our obligations to the clergy" rather than increasing the assessments paid by parishes throughout the diocese.

According to diocesan figures for the 2008-09 fiscal year:

- The diocese had to pay $1.1 million for "clergy support and medical assistance" above the $2.9 million parishes contributed to cover health insurance premiums for active priests. Diocese spokesman William Genello said he could not specify what accounted for those costs because they pertain to "medical or other personal issues," but he said "the diocese is obligated to provide necessary care for priests who might be dealing with a variety of personal issues." He also said the costs have exceeded the amount budgeted for them.

- Costs to run the Villa St. Joseph retirement home for priests exceeded the funds parishes contributed to operate it by $38,000.

- Health care costs for retired priests were more than double the $696,000 parishes contributed for those expenses.

- Seminary and clergy education cost $263,000, but the diocese projects education expenses "will increase significantly" in the next fiscal year. Mr. Genello said a number of priests will be engaged in advanced studies this year, in part because priests must be trained in specific areas, like Canon Law, as older priests with those specialities retire.

Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com

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allen, 06/24/09 11:57

Parent who was ignored:

I find it difficult to empathize with you. You simply claim you "were ignored." What does that mean? You offer no details, just a cryptic "Parent who was ignored." Given that I have no context to put to your statement, in the end it is meaningless to me.

As for Boycotting the bishop: Yawn, double yawn, Zzzzzzzzzzzzz. What else is new? Another so called Catholic disobeying their bishop. Join the club! IT AIN'T NEWS. It would be NEWS if you actually were going to obey and work with him!

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/24/09 11:34

Jeff,

That's for sure! This definitely is not the kind of Catholicism I was raised in!

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Proud Catholic, 06/24/09 11:33

Father Dave,

Then why did the Vatican newspaper release an editorial praising President Obama?

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Proud Catholic, 06/24/09 11:29

Jeff,

Here is the reality: Unfortunatley God's Word leads to DEATH. That is the way it is. We have to suffer for the sake of truth- which means indeed, funds will be scarce. I don't like that idea, but that is the way it IS. I can't do anything about it. All I can do is pray everyday for the Grace to be Faithful to God's Word, and the stregnth to preach it in times which are extremely HOSTILE to it.

Indeed, it won't be fun, but in the end a willingness to suffer and die leads to LIFE ETERNAL. Clinging to LIFE ironically leads to ETERNAL DESTRUCTION.

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/24/09 11:29

Apparently "Catholic Identity" as defined by Father Bechtel and Bishop Martino is one that drives out, alienates and excludes, rather than one which reaches out. That is totally inconsistent with 2000 years of prior Catholic identity.

Have fun trying to raise funds and survive with your new-found identity.

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Jeff, 06/24/09 10:47

BOYCOTT THE BISHOP..he wouldn't listen to us, so we won't listen to him.

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parent who was ignored, 06/24/09 10:12

Pius,

The money for this collection is NOT FOR PRIEST'S SALARY. Don't you understand that? Salaries are FROOZEN. Priests are not getting raises, just like all the other employees are not getting raises this year. Seconldy, priests like EVERYONE ELSE ARE ENTITIED TO VACATION and time away from the parish. I have been on vacation, but it was simply time off. Like you I don't have the money for extravagent travel, but I do get time off and I take it. If it is alright with you sir, in August I will be joining my parents at the shore. I hope you don't think that too extravangent. If you do, too bad. I am still going, and I will enjoy myself.

Perhaps during these hard economic times priests should be more sensitive with their habits. I think you can make an argument for that. However YOU sir, are not the standard by which a priest must judge his standard of living.

Sir, you make it sound as though the life of a priest is easy and luxorious. If indeed this is the case, then why aren't people breaking down the doors to get in? Perhaps sir, becasue they know the life is NOT easy, and is FAR from luxurious. Rewarding? YOU BET, but FAR from easy.

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/24/09 06:26

My Voyt, Proud Catholic,

Notre Dame and like institutions in my mind, and the mind of many are not Catholic. Though the question of their Catholic identity has been in question for a long time, the recent debacle at Notre Dame has left no doubt in my mind. They have sold out formally to the principles of liberal, secular, athesitic, humanism. They have choosen prestige over a witness to God's Truth. On the issue of Abortion there is NO COMPROMISE.

We don't need a "liberal" bishop, what we need is a bishop who is not afraid to stand up and preach the Holy and Inerrant Word of God.

That being said, perhaps one can make an argument that now is not a good time to impliment a second collection. If one wants to make that argument, one is free to do so. If one feels this is not a good time to impliment such a collection, one does not have to contribute to the collection.

In my mind (unless someone corrects me) the first obligation parishoners have in considering whom to contribute with limited funds is their particular parish community. The Diocese comes second, and all other collections third. This means if a parishoner can only contribute X amount of dollars and no more, their parish gets first consideration, as their money stays directly in their community and they can see direct results of their contrbutions. IF a parisoner has a little more they can afford, then they can consider the Diocese. If a little more one or more of the second collections for this or that.

Part of the reason for the second collections for this or that has to do with the fact that the Church is universal, it is not just limited to one's particular community.

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/24/09 06:14

seems happy to give has issues well thats good since you are happy to give then you can give for those of us who refuse to finance this nut case bishop since hes the root cause of the diocese going the direction that it is

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mike, 06/24/09 01:36

Please direct all donations you would have made to the appeal to another Catholic charity like the soup kitchen. Better yet, donate it to the Jesuits, or Notre Dame!

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Proud Catholic, 06/24/09 12:06

Father Dave,

I respect the priests of this diocese. Most that I have encountered are open minded, and even a few liberals!

If we had a more liberal bishop, collections would rise. Look at Notre Dame. They met their two year goal this year! As another post said, give me more Jesuits and like minded priests, and I will show you a diocese that will not only get by, but THRIVE.

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TO FATHER DAVE, 06/24/09 12:05

Hey Dave Bechtel,

Remember when I said a while back the Church is on the verge of collapse? Look around, its happening and will get worse.

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Mr. Voyt, 06/23/09 11:19

This is the problem with people that believe that Martino walks on water. As soon as you criticize, your told to leave and form your own non catholic church (see "Happy to Give" comments) and other related comments. Well people the church is run by human beings prone to making errors, so I for one am not giving Martino the benefit of the doubt. Maybe the money is needed, but Martino needs to do a better job in communicating. I wonder if the Bishop showed the same concern for the family's that incurred significant financial hardship when the 50 teachers were laid off.

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Dave, 06/23/09 10:11

Lets travel back in time. The beginning of the 'Bishops Annual Appeal'. At the time, part of the appeal funds were needed for Priestly formation, the retirement villa, and other ongoing costs related to priests. Now...thats not been enough. So lets start yet ANOTHER collection!! Get over it. How many churches are slated to close within the next year? Or this year for that matter? I agree retirement costs may be enourmous, with health care costing the greatest. But exactly how many seminarians are studying for the Diocese at present? 3? Or is it less? I stopped giving to the appeal after the second year. And NEVER use second collection envelopes. And before you all decide I'm cheap or anti-anything....I picked a Catholic organization in the diocese and make a monthly contribution. And have for the last several years. God Bless what seems to be a misguided direction we're heading into.

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2.1188_jerry829@msn.com, 06/23/09 09:06

Jerome,

When I said I practice what I preach I mean that I contribute both to my parish, and to the Diocesean Annual Appeal. To the appeal I contribute relatively well, though well is relative. I don't say that to pat myself on the back, only to show that I lead by example. I have to ask the people to contribute, so I contribute as well. It is the same with the parish.

Your "giving my shoes to a stranger" bit is just nonsense. If I give my shoes to a stranger, what shoes will I have? How about I simply call or send the person to the appropriate charity that is equipped to handle that? Wouldn't that be a more workable and logical solution?

I disagree that you are powerless and have no status whereas I am somehow powerful and have status. You are playing what a former supervisor of mine would call the "Aw shucks game" In this game, the person "plays small" and exagerates the importance of the other person they are speaking with.

Just look at the anti-Catholic comments on this board. You call that status and respect? The huge majority of people are with you, not me. I am not complaining, I am just stating a fact. Priests and clergy certainly at one time had a very high status in society, but those days are gone. That is not necessarily a bad thing- since I would rather people respect me for the kind of person I am, not just the collar I wear.

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/23/09 08:36

Tom,

Thank you for your respectful and intelligent post. I disagree, but your post was well reasoned and logical.

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Father Dave Bechtel, 06/23/09 08:16

How about the deal the diocese allegedly signed with the land shale guys up in properties they own in the northern counties. rumor has it, it is allegedly worth million of dollars. so is this true? or not?

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just wondering, 06/23/09 08:07

They should take up a collection for the 55 teachers they just got rid of. I would give money sooner to Mr. Maloney then I would ever give to the great Oz, martino.

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sister jess, 06/23/09 08:00

Great Idea...Let's go martino, put your money where your big mouth is...release your taxes from the last FIVE years. What do you have to hide ???

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Goebel, 06/23/09 07:58

Diocese of Scranton adds collection to boost priests' benefits

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