Heating costs have chilling effect on Chicago parishes

Published: 2005-12-06

CHICAGO (CNS) -- When it comes to paying heating bills this winter, Chicago archdiocesan officials have some advice for pastors and other parish leaders: Pray for a mild winter. That was the last item on an unusually long list of recommendations that Tom Brennan, finance director for the Archdiocese of Chicago, sent to all pastors: Turn down the thermostat, keep doors closed, break down the increased costs to make it appear more manageable to parishioners and share with parishes that have fewer financial resources. But no matter what parishes do, Brennan said, they will have to face huge costs they did not anticipate when they planned their budgets early this year. "We're expecting costs to be 40 to 50 percent higher," he told The Catholic New World, newspaper of the Chicago Archdiocese. "We're expecting the extra heating costs to be $6 (million) to $8 million higher this year. That's not just for parishes, though."

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