Diocese expects a deficit of 46 million euros in 2021
The Diocese of Trier has to reckon with losses of millions: Vicar General Ulrich Graf von Plettenberg spoke of a “bitter realization”, Finance Director Kirsten Straus of “serious changes and structural breaks”.
Trier – 17.12.2020
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The diocese Trier faces major financial challenges. For the coming year, the diocese expects a deficit of 46.6 million euros – significantly more than the deficit of 22.3 million euros for 2020, as the diocese said on Thursday when the Household in Trier communicated.
Vicar General Ulrich Graf von Plettenberg emphasized that the deficit will be offset by reserves, which will continue to shrink and reduce the diocese’s financial leeway. He spoke of a “bitter realization” of having to get by faster with less money in the future. In addition to known challenges such as the restructuring of the diocese, dealing with abuse, declining income and increasing numbers of people leaving the church, the corona pandemic is added.
Overall, the diocese plans for the coming year with revenues of 437.5 million euros. The largest part of this, at 318 million euros, is income from church taxes. This contrasts with the expected expenditure of 487.3 million euros. The two largest expenditure items in the planned budget are 189.9 million euros for personnel expenses and 188.2 million euros for church legal entities such as schools, daycare centers, parishes or Caritas. The exact items for expenditure and income can be viewed online on the diocese website.
“Serious changes and structural breaks”
Finance director Kirsten Straus said the diocese was facing “serious changes and structural breaks”. In addition to falling income, the problem is that the framework conditions are increasingly fluctuating and planning is becoming increasingly uncertain as a result. The future of the diocese will lie in “readiness to adapt and flexibility”.
The vicar general announced a savings plan. With a view to the financial situation, it is all the more important “that we take our goals in view and decide what we want to use our resources for,” said von Plettenberg. This includes, for example, reducing fixed costs, minimizing administrative expenses and reviewing structures. The diocese wants to think carefully about which tasks should be used in the future. “It will be a painful process,” said the vicar general. It is good that the diocese, after detours with the new reform plans, now has a target image for further development in mind. This helps to set priorities and consider which tasks should be promoted.
Last also had the diocese Würzburg announced drastic austerity measures. “The diocese budget is in a dangerous situation,” says Bishop Franz Jung. In the current year, the diocese is expecting up to 15 million euros less, in 2021 even 20 million euros. As a measure, among other things, educational establishments are to be closed and staff reduced. (tmg / KNA)
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