Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Collections at Sunday mass have fallen dramatically, leading to lower salaries for Catholic priests AP Photo/Peter Morrison

Catholic priests in Dublin to face 9 per cent income cut

Take a guess at how much a priest will now earn…

CATHOLIC PRIESTS IN the Dublin diocese have been told their incomes will be cut by 9 per cent this year, after having already dropped by 6 per cent last year.

The cut is due to falling returns from church collections which provide for the salaries of priests in the area.

Priests were informed of the cut by a letter sent from the Archbishop’s House, the administrative centre for the diocese, this week.

The basic income for a priest in the diocese is now €24,079 per year, plus up to €2,820 for years of service, for a maximum of €26,899.  The basic figure has dropped by more than €4,000 in the past two years. Priests are often also provided with accommodation for their work.

Priests’ salaries are provided for by the first collection at Sunday masses, as well as Christmas and Easter dues. The money collected goes into a common fund, which pays for nursing homes, health insurance and housing for sick and retired priests. The remainder is used to pay the salaries of priests in the diocese.

“When people give more to this fund priests get more; when it goes down they get less”,  said a spokesperson for the Dublin diocese. The fund is run by a committee of priests.

The recession and the myriad child sex abuse scandals in the church have led to a sharp decrease in the amount collected, with the diocese estimating that donations have fallen by 16 per cent in the past three years.

Diarmuid Martin, the Archbishop of Dublin, is meeting with representatives from parishes throughout the diocese this week, according to the spokesperson.

“The Archdiocese, like many other organisations in these difficult times, is conducting a wide ranging review of all its finances in an attempt to determine what services and projects it is in a position to fund and plan for into the future, and all expenditure and income is being examined thoroughly,” said the spokesperson.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
65 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Patrick Linehan
    Favourite Patrick Linehan
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 9:04 AM

    The very best of luck to the artist.

    117
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John O'Neill
    Favourite John O'Neill
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 1:41 PM

    Terrible photo to illustrate the story…

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan McNamara
    Favourite Alan McNamara
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 4:30 PM

    Was just wondering why they didnt show any of her work.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Hill
    Favourite Nick Hill
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 8:51 AM

    Ah Saatchi, I must say his ‘strangling wife’ period is quite exquisite.

    97
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Noella Geoghegan
    Favourite Noella Geoghegan
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 10:44 AM

    Ciara is an amazing artist! I am privileged to be from the same town as her and know her! A fabulous an original talent x

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 9:20 AM

    There is a lot of work reminiscent of Georgia O’Keeffe all over the Internet.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 9:44 AM

    Is there anything reminiscent of her work?

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute J. Dunn
    Favourite J. Dunn
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 9:55 AM

    I caught that too late. Auto correct doesn’t like giving up possession.

    16
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Little Jim
    Favourite Little Jim
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 10:57 AM

    Dial you, autotrader.!!!!

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Saff Bells
    Favourite Saff Bells
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 2:58 PM

    It seems the fairly typical mixed media stuff that’s fashionable now, quite commercial.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Sugar Beet
    Favourite Sugar Beet
    Report
    Jul 7th 2013, 2:04 PM

    An interesting modern take on the gorget by Ciara

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds