Philadelphia Archdiocese Cuts 45 Jobs, Cites $17M Deficit
By Pat Loeb
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Philadelphia Archdiocese has laid off 45 employees in an effort to close a $17-million dollar budget deficit.
The layoffs are part of a broad restructuring that includes the elimination of several departments and the folding of the Catholic Standard and Times and Phaith magazine.
Among the departments being eliminated is the one that has overseen CYO sports. However; a spokeswoman says CYO sports will continue, out of a different office.
The employees were given no notice that the layoffs were coming, but a statement from the Archdiocese says they'll be given 60 days pay, severance, accrued vacation and benefits through September 30th.
Estimated savings from the cuts were not provided, but the statement says it will reduce the deficit, not eliminate it.
The statement also says little of the deficit was caused by the costs from the clergy abuse investigation, though the Archdiocese spent more than $11-million dollars in legal and professional costs, even before the trial began.
