Róise McGagh and Chai Brady
Hard-pressed priests are facing cuts to their already modest salaries as church closure have led to a severe fall in income for parishes and dioceses across Ireland.
A number of priests have told The Irish Catholic they are concerned about having to rely on their families for support.
The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois has informed priests that their income will be cut by 41% due the coronavirus crisis, from €1,700 a month to €1,000. It was said this will continue until September, when there’s another collection for priests.
Bishop Fintan Monahan of Killaloe told The Irish Catholic that he is currently consulting priests regarding a salary cut this week. “Like most dioceses, yes, we’ve been looking at it, last week the Council of Priests suggested that I explore with the priests the idea of taking a pay cut for the duration of the crisis,” he said.
“I think it’s a good thing to have a gesture of a cut, it’s in solidarity with people who are in trouble financially because many others are, it’s also to help the reserves that are there,” Bishop Monahan said.
He said that similar to many dioceses there are four collections a year for priests in Killaloe. With the prospect of missing the Easter and possibly the summer collection “that’s when you’re getting into a little bit of bother”.
“With time we’ll know whether we’re playing for a long-term cut or a short-term cut, it’s all for exploration at the moment,” he added.
Concerns
Meanwhile, Primate of All-Ireland Archbishop Eamon Martin has also written to priests of the Armagh Archdiocese addressing concerns about a potential fall in the small amount that priests are paid.
He said that “a number of dioceses around the country have already taken the decision to reduce the monthly stipend because of the almost complete fall-off in revenue from the normally weekly collections”.
A meeting of their Council of Priests will be held at the end of this month in which they will discuss their options after hearing from the archdiocese’s priests.
In the Diocese of Ferns parishes are financially independent, with priests being paid from their local parish. Diocesan Communications Officer Fr John Carroll said that the money coming into parishes has all but “dried up”.
“In cases were priests have no other income the advice has been to apply for the Covid-19 payment – that’s only when priests have no other income,” Fr Carroll said.
He said that a lot of older priests are already relying on the State pension.
Fr Carroll said that some priests have already applied for the Covid-19 payment and are receiving €350 a week, provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection for those who have lost their income. Fr Carroll added that diocesan funds are expected to drop by approximately 25% for the year due to the lack of parish collections.
Fr Joseph Tynan of the Diocese of Cashel and Emly said they use a salary fund that all parishes pay into. However, he said that many parishes do not have reserves and are “living hand to mouth”.
Fr Tom Hayes in Cork and Ross said he believed it was too early to put something in place to offset the consequences for the parishes or clergy in terms of the fall in donations. “Some parishes whose budgets are very tight may have cashflow issues but I think they can be resolved locally and parishes will help one another,” Fr Hayes said.
Incomes
“Our incomes are down for this period, but I haven’t had any of my colleagues raising an issue, we have enough to get us through,” he said.
When contacted by this paper many of Ireland’s dioceses either declined to comment or said they had not considered the matter of priests’ income yet.
Regarding the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, which entitles a person to receive €350 a week from the State in the Republic, there was some confusion among priests whether they were eligible.
The department stated: “Clerics of all religions are eligible for the Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.”