NEW JERSEY
NJ.com
July 12, 2020
By Kelly Heyboer
Faced with empty churches and an unprecedented drop in weekly donations, all five of New Jersey’s Catholic dioceses used a special exemption to apply for taxpayer-funded loans through a federal program designed to help keep small businesses afloat during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Archdiocese of Newark and the dioceses of Metuchen, Paterson, Trenton and Camden received loans through the federal Paycheck Protection Program to help pay employees in their parishes, schools and administrative offices, church officials told NJ Advance Media.
Spokespeople for the five dioceses did not respond when asked how much of the taxpayer-backed aid they have received so far, but said the help was sorely needed.
The Associated Press reported Friday that the U.S. Catholic Church has received between $1.4 billion and $3.5 billion in federal coronavirus aid with millions going to dioceses that recently filed for bankruptcy protection or paid large settlements related to the clergy sexual abuse allegations.
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