NEW JERSEY
The Record
FEBRUARY 19, 2015
BY JEFF GREEN
STAFF WRITER | THE RECORD
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark has launched its primary fundraising drive with a new name this year, striking “archbishop” from the title in a change widely seen as a reaction to parishioner protests directed at Archbishop John J. Myers last year.
The renamed Sharing God’s Blessings Appeal launched this month and follows a year in which parishioners were angered by revelations that the archdiocese was spending $500,000 to expand Myers’ 4,500-square-foot retirement house in rural Hunterdon County. Some churchgoers withheld donations from fundraising campaigns in protest, and the archdiocese confirmed that contributions dipped last year compared with the year before.
Jim Goodness, an archdiocese spokesman, denied that parishioner dissatisfaction with spending on the house played a role in renaming the fundraiser, saying it was motivated by a desire to inform the faithful about the many programs funded by the appeal, including schools and Catholic Charities.
The appeal, which attempts to raise $10 million each year, is operating simultaneously with a separate $90 million capital fundraising effort to fund programs into the future, as well as to address some immediate needs.
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