It's Not the Economy...

It is scary to think that anyone invovled in the Church these days would even think about using that as an excuse...



This is happening across the country, some dioceses are reporting it others aren't. In some ways this may in the end be another purification process, although one friend I know who has had his job cut is the wrong person for them to let go, while the disenters are being retained.



Tampabay: Donations down, diocese cuts jobs:



After three years of declining contributions, the Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg is planning to substantially cut administrative jobs in an attempt to preserve programs.



A severance package has been offered to all of the diocese's 120 full- and part-time employees at its pastoral center in St. Petersburg. The diocese has 75 parishes and 380,000 parishioners in Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.



The administrative employees have until 5 p.m. Wednesday to decide whether to take the offer, which was initially made last month.



Church leaders have no set goal for reducing employees, said the Rev. Alan Weber, vicar general and Bishop Robert N. Lynch's second in command. He said the diocese would rather cut jobs and rework staff responsibilities than cut into support programs.