Canadian bishops' conference to have balanced budget for 2007

Published: 2006-10-25

OTTAWA (CNS) -- The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops has approved a balanced budget for 2007 and plans to maintain the 2006 levels each diocese pays to fund the conference. "We are in good shape," said the conference president, Archbishop Andre Gaumond of Sherbrooke, Quebec, in a telephone interview Oct. 23. "It's really promising. We were very strict on the expenses. We have the results. Let's hope we can keep on this way." Dioceses in the English sector of the conference will continue to be assessed 28.43 cents (US25.27 cents) per capita in 2007, while those in the French sector will continue to pay 18.78 cents (US16.7 cents) per capita. The English sector rate is higher because it receives religious education services through the Canadian bishops' conference, while an independent organization in Quebec provides those services to the French sector. The forecast surplus for 2006 is $368,000 (US$327,000) and the actual surplus for 2005 is $824,694 (US$733,000).

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