MINNESOTA
KAAL
[with video]
By: Beth McDonough
The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced 20 percent in spending cuts over the weekend. That’s about $5 million worth of reductions in jobs and programs.
Archdiocese officials say these cuts don’t directly affect the budgets of parishes, Catholic schools and other local Catholic groups, because they operate independently.
“Even without including unanticipated legal and other outside professional fees, our current operational budget is unsustainable,” the Reverend Charles Lackowitzer of the Archdiocese said in a statement.
The archdiocese, along with the Diocese of Winona, says they’re considering all options to help pay for a historic settlement
Although the exact amount of the settlement is confidential, experts say it will likely cost the Archdiocese tens of millions of dollars – perhaps more money than the Catholic church can afford.
A Minnesota judge signed off on the settlement Monday in a groundbreaking case that accused Catholic church leaders in Minnesota of creating a public nuisance by failing to warn parishioners about an abusive priest.
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