SPOKANE – Donations from parishioners are up in the Catholic Diocese of Spokane despite a priest sex abuse controversy that prompted the diocese to seek bankruptcy protection.
Donations have gone up this year to the Annual Catholic Appeal, which is the major source of money for diocese programs in Eastern Washington.
The number of donors and the total pledge amount are higher compared with last year. So far, about 6,800 Catholic households have pledged $1.56 million – nearly 92 percent of the diocese’s goal of $1.7 million.
Last year, the diocese had collected only $1.3 million from 6,400 households by mid-April. Money given to the appeal is in addition to weekly tithes people donate to their churches.
“We have to keep the ministry alive,” said Frank Cheyney, a member of St. Paschal’s Church in the Spokane Valley.
Cheyney said he wants to help victims of clergy sexual abuse, but he also wants to ensure the diocese’s survival.
“Cutting the church off (from donations) is not a Christian approach,” he said. “We have to keep the church going. We have to keep our focus on the Lord and what our roles are as Christians.”
Although donations have increased, figures show that more than 70 percent of the nearly 25,000 Catholic households in Eastern Washington haven’t given anything. Parishioners have the rest of the year to send their donations, but the big push for contributions ended earlier this month.
Many Catholics are worried about the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and the diocese’s proposed settlement offer of $45.7 million to 75 sex-abuse victims. They worry they may have to sell or mortgage parishes and schools to raise the money.
That prompted some to withhold donations.
“As adult Catholics, we, too, agree that faithful stewardship calls us to care for those beyond our door,” wrote Linda Kobe-Smith. “But faithful stewardship also requires that we use our heads as well as our hearts.”
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