Campus
Catholic club hurt by Archdiocese budget
cuts
By
Sean Orfila
On-line Forty-Niner
The
Newman Club, a club that serves Catholic
students at Cal State Long Beach, is still
without a minister after the position was
cut from the budget of the L.A Diocese last
October.
Sean
Masero, president of the Newman Club, said
that the group does not receive enough funding
from the diocese to pay the minister. The
club also had to forfeit its office in the
University Interfaith center because it
could not afford the $300 per month rental
fee.
The
diocese is the major overseeing authority
for all Catholic churches in the Los Angeles
area. The minister was part of the diocese's
youth funding and had to be cut because
of financial difficulties.
"[The
diocese] is just like any other business,
when they make cuts, the youth programs
are the first to go," Masero said.
Masero
also said that the budget cuts are largely
a result of a floundering stock market in
which the diocese holds a fair stake, as
well as the diocese having to pay lawyers
after the barrage of molestation cases over
the past year. He said a large amount of
money is donated to churches in poorer areas
that are in need of funding.
The
L.A Archdiocese Web site reports that during
the 2003 fiscal year, they are operating
with an estimated $5.7 million deficit.
During
the 2002 fiscal year, the diocese paid $1.5
million in settlements related to sexual
abuse by clergy.
"There
is no money for a minister at this time,"
Masero said.
Masero
said although they lost their minister as
of last October, the minister continued
to meet with the club on her own time until
the end of the semester. The club is still
provided with a priest for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
services. That weekly mass is funded by
the diocese and is located in Union room
103.
During
the 2002 fiscal year, the L.A. Archdiocese
financial statement reports that Catholic
Charities received about $38 million in
funding from the diocese. About $2.2 million
of that funding comes from the government
as part of the Cal Works Youth Jobs program.
According
to a November article from the Los Angeles
Times, during the 2001 fiscal year, the
diocese lost over $14 million.
Amid
a multitude of budget cuts that have also
plundered state and local governments, the
diocese still managed to unveil a $189-million
cathedral last year in downtown Los Angeles.
The
archdiocese Web site reports that the cathedral
was paid for by a combination of donations
and a bank loan. That report also states
that member contributions to the church
are up $5.3 million.
According
to the Newman Club's vice president, Aga
Szczesniak, the club gathers at St. Cyprians
every first and third Monday to feed the
homeless. They also have lunch on Tuesdays
from 12 to 2 p.m. next to the pool and meet
for Sunday mass at Our Lady of Refuge Church
at 5 p.m.
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