Michigan bishops give 6,000 retired church workers extra payday

Published: 2006-03-20

LANSING, Mich. (CNS) -- In an economy where large companies routinely cut pension benefits, scrimp on bonuses and scale back their workforces, the Catholic Church in Michigan gave its retirees a big surprise in December -- a bonus, 13th-month pension check. And in mid-March Cardinal Adam J. Maida of Detroit and the state's bishops received an outpouring of letters from the recipients, expressing gratitude for the monetary blessing. Some described how they used the funds -- from paying gas bills to being able to just have a little nicer Christmas. The Lansing-based Michigan Catholic Conference, whose board of directors includes the state's diocesan bishops, provides pension benefits to more than 6,000 retired church employees across the state. When the Lay Employees' Retirement Plan experienced a solid financial year, the conference's board of directors, chaired by Cardinal Maida, made sure the surplus was spread to those who labored to build the body of Christ during their careers.

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