Boston, Mass., Jun 20, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The Archdiocese of Boston announced Monday that it will lay off 25 people at diocesan headquarters - out of a staff of 270 - as part of an effort to reduce its deficit.
The reduction will not eliminate any ministries, but some will be consolidated, reported the Boston Globe.
Cardinal Sean O'Malley, archbishop of Boston, had pledged to cut 50 positions from the chancery staff as part of his strategy for fiscal recovery. The current reduction is being accomplished by transferring some employees to assist parishes and other services.
Diocesan spokesman Kevin Shea said some of the lay-offs are diocesan priests, who are being reassigned to parishes, and religious-order priests, nuns, and brothers, who are being reassigned by their orders.
The archdiocese has been struggling financially since the abuse crisis in 2002, which caused a dramatic reduction in contributions. The archdiocese has reduced its staff by 30 percent since 2002.