Bishop apologizes that diocese in England slid millions into debt

Published: 2006-03-01

LONDON (CNS) -- A Catholic bishop in northern England has apologized to churchgoers after discovering that his diocese has slid more than 10.2 million pounds (US$17.8 million) into debt. Bishop Patrick O'Donoghue said the Diocese of Lancaster, England, had allowed its centralized bureaucracy to "eat up" money belonging to parishes and restricted funds, such as those set aside for sick and retired priests and for training priests and deacons. A total of 7.2 million pounds (US$12.5 million) was taken from accounts belonging to the parishes. Another 3 million pounds (US$5.2 million) came from money allocated for specific purposes or held in trust funds. Bishop O'Donoghue admitted the practice was contrary to canon law but explained it had arisen out of confusion with British civil law, which treats a diocese and its parishes as a single unit. The bishop told Catholic News Service March 1 that he hoped the parishes "will write off the debt," which was accumulated over a period of 12 to 15 years.

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