After 46 Years, Another Catholic Voice Is Silenced, by Deacon Greg Kandra, Deacon's Bench, April 13, 2011

After 46 Years, Another Catholic Voice Is Silenced

By Deacon Greg Kandra
Deacon's Bench
April 13, 2011

http://www.patheos.com/community/deaconsbench/2011/04/13/after-46-years-another-catholic-voice-is-silenced/

It’s a story no newspaper ever wants to report, but it happened this week in Wilmington.

The Dialog, the newspaper for the Diocese of Wilmington is closing — and all staff members being laid off. And that’s just the beginning. More diocesan offices are also being shuttered, including some affiliated with Catholic Charities.

Details:

The Diocese of Wilmington will eliminate 19 full-time and three part-time positions as it cuts operating expenses and prepares to pay more than $77.4 million to survivors of sexual abuse by priests.

Among the services that will be discontinued because of the lay-offs are two run by Catholic Charities — parish social ministry and the adoption program. The diocese will also stop publishing The Dialog after 46 years and will let go the paper’ s staff of seven full-time employees and one contract staff member.

Other staff reductions will come in the offices of the chancery (central administra- tion), Hispanic ministry, human resources, religious education, and marriage tribunal. A vacant position in Catholic Y outh Min- istry will not be filled.

Most of the layoffs will be effective July 1. The Dialog “will be phased out sometime this fall,” the diocese said. “Alternative modes of communication between the diocese, parishes and the faithful are being studied.”