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You are > Home > Nothing definite is decided yet
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Thursday, March 11, 2010
Nothing definite is decided yet
COMMUNICATIONS Officer for the Ferns’ Diocese, Fr. John Carroll, has said that: “Nothing definite as to how to proceed on the issue of funding for future claims has yet been decided in the Ferns diocese.”
It may also be decided to dispose of diocesan assets, but that would only come after the conclusion of consultation with churchgoers, he said.
Meanwhile Bishop of Ferns, Denis Brennan, has said his diocese had to find ways of paying €1.2m in compensation bills.
But he said Ferns’ parish assets could be sold to cover some of the costs.
“The selling of assets is on the table,” he said. These included the sale of one or more of the diocese’s five fixed assets the bishop’s house, St. Peter’s College, a house in Wexford, and two parcels of land. The options will be considered over the next 12 months, Bishop Brennan said.
Bishop Brennan, who is attending the three-day spring meeting of the Bishops’ Conference at Maynooth, ruled out suggestions the Vatican could contribute or underwrite legal bills.
It is estimated the diocese can afford to make half of the €120,000 annual payment on a 20year mortgage taken out on the diocesan centre (bishop’s residence), but will need help with the remaining €60,000.
The bishop said there were a number of options facing the authorities when it came to making up the shortfall.
Fr. Carroll said going to the parishes is but “one” option the diocesan finance committee has put to parish finance committees in response to some requests from individuals within the diocese as to “how we might help” to complete the work of justice and healing (Home News, March 3rd).
“Nothing definite as to how to proceed on the issue of the source of funding for future claims has yet been decided in the Ferns’ diocese. The diocesan authority is continuing to consult members of the diocesan family as to what direction they think should be taken from here.
This process happens each year at the annual finance AGM. At no time was anything but a consultation, or an invitation to further engagement and discernment, proposed. It may very well be that a decision will be taken to dispose of one of the diocesan assets but that will only occur after the conclusion of consultation over the coming months, and perhaps years with churchgoers.”
He said the work of justice continues with a view to ensuring provision exists for the person who comes last, as much as for the person who came first.
“The diocese continues its work of engagement in healing and reconciliation with those who have suffered, as has been permitted and requested,” he said in a letter to a national newspaper.
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