Scottish diocese turns to parishioners for bailout

The diocese of Paisley has turned to parishioners rather than professional fundraisers in an effort to pay off a £3 million debt.

Bishop John Keenan an­nounced the initiative in a letter setting out his plans for a Friends’ programme, through which individuals can contribute to different projects within the diocese, such as vocations, education and youth.

The bishop said that Paisley was running at a deficit of £300,000 per year, and has appointed Fr Oliver Freney, administrator of St Mirin’s Cathedral, as a director of fundraising with a remit to bring in £100,000 per year.

Bishop Keenan said that until now the debt had been funded from cash reserves and revenues from cemeteries and legacies. He pointed out that Paisley was in the same position as virtually every other diocese in Scotland but expressed determination to deal with the problem at source.

He said: “How the deficit has built up is no real surprise. It is the same deadly combination of rising costs and falling income that you know all too well from your own home finances”. A fall of nearly 20 per cent in Mass attendance had also meant that income from the collection  had dropped accordingly. Rather than give the task to professional fundraisers, Bishop Keenan said that he was “putting his trust in you, my own people” and that he had “every confidence that you will see us right”. The aim is to generate £300,000 of income and savings each year by cutting costs, raising parish levies and the ongoing fundraising programme.

 Bishop Keenan said that almost £100,000 had already been saved by reducing costs, with a further £60,000 taken in from parish levies. Fr Freney said: “If every member of our diocese signed up to give just £5 a year, we would be in surplus.”