Anger as parish funds used to meet child sex abuse costs

Bishop Seamus Hegarty who has admitted drawing ?200,000 (?289,000) a year from parochial funds to compensate sex abuse victims.

Thursday February 24th 2005

THE Catholic diocese of Derry has admitted that it is drawing money from parochial funds at the rate of Stg?200,000 (?289,000) per year to compensate sex abuse victims and pay for child protection services - without the knowledge of parishioners.

The diocese has imposed a 3pc levy on parish contributions which are then paid into a central fund, set up by the hierarchy, to finance sex abuse compensation claims and child protection services. Stg?1m (?1.4m) is being contributed over the next five years.

However, Derry's levy has been imposed without informing all parishioners. This has resulted in some parishes withholding the levy until Derry's Bishop Seamus Hegarty makes clear what the levy is for.

Bishop Hegarty made the admission concerning the levy on the BBC's 'Spotlight' programme.

The central fund, called the Stewardship Trust, is now drawing on contributions from all 26 dioceses around the country.

The Irish Independent has learned that each diocese is contributing in proportion to its share of the overall Catholic population instead of according to the number of abuse claims each has received.

The diocese of Cork and Ross confirmed last night that over the last 12 months it has contributed ?265,000 to the trust. Diocesan spokesman, Fr Tom Hayes said: "To the best of my knowledge, the money is being asked for [by the Bishops' Conference] on a per capita basis."

Limerick diocese also confirmed that it has contributed ?200,000 to the fund.

However, both Limerick, and Cork and Ross, have paid their contributions so far from diocesan assets and not from parochial collections, said spokesmen. Cork and Ross has a Catholic population of 220,000, Limerick's is 169,500, while Derry has 233,000 Catholics.

Based on the contributions being made by the above three dioceses, the Stewardship Trust is now receiving ?5m per annum from the bishops.

Last year is believed to be the first year that dioceses have had to pay money into the trust. Prior to that, child protection services and compensation claims were being paid for from an amount of ?10m that was put into the fund in the mid- to late 1990s by the Church's insurance company, Church and General. That amount is now almost exhausted.

Limerick, and Cork and Ross, both said that the money they are paying into the fund has so far come from diocesan investments consisting mainly of donations and bequests made through the years by priests, and not from parishes.

Limerick diocesan spokesman, Fr Seamus Madigan, said that if in the future money is drawn from contributions to parishes, parishioners will be told in advance.

Fr Madigan stressed that the money from the Stewardship Trust was also paying for counselling services and to finance the Church's child protection service.

Fr Tom Hayes also said that discussions would take place with parishioners and clergy before they would be asked for money for the Stewardship Trust.

Radio programmes in Northern Ireland yesterday received numerous calls from listeners angry at Bishop Hegarty.

Some threatened not to put money into their parish collection until it is made clear exactly what happens to it.

David Quinn and George Jackson

? Irish Independent