With ten of thousands of U nun thr...

With ten of thousands of U nun through the whole extent of age 70, the Roman Catholic ecclesiastical authority is facing a massive financial shortfall for the care of retirees in religious orders -- a gap that through the whole extent of the long term dwarfs costlinesss from the clergy abuse crisis.

however billions of dollars have been salted away, there still remains an unfund coming events liability of $8.7 billion for common nuns, priests and brothers in religious orders. The financial retreat is projected by a consulting firm to exce $20 billion at 2023.

A June inspect by the church's National Religious Retirement Office, not to this time released to the public, presents spending for retiree care at $926 million last year alone. That compares with a total of $499 million received throughout the past 18 years from annual special parish collections to aid retirees.

The retirement realities far overshadow the weight from well- publicized sexual abuse cases, which have take away from the American church more than $1 billion since 1950 with ten of millions of dollars in pending claims.

In any ways, religious orders face the same enigma as many governments: increasing numbers of older retirees ne benefits, further there are fewer workers to support them. America's younger workers pay now for the Social Security benefits of seniors, while younger religious support their older generations by dint of caring for them.

Smaller orders have it worse

Sisters, who make up 82 percent of retirees, are especially vulnerable.

Between 1965 and 2005 their numbers plummet from 179954 to 68634 according to the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University.

With far fewer younger novices being recruited, the majority of sisters are now more than 70 years advanced in years the retirement office's new scan said. Even though sisters usually work until age 75 caring for the retired population is a gigantic task.

The question is discussed in the of the present day book Double Crossed: Uncovering the Catholic Church's Betrayal of American Nun (Doubleday) from former New York Times religion editor Kenneth Briggs. The book's main theme is that temple authorities vetoed sisters' hopes for dramatic changes that would provide more freedom and effective ministries in the aftermath of the secondary Vatican Council.

When Briggs complet his research, the annual care expense was running at $800 million and aid collections then totaled $480 million. He reports that the annual collections generate more than twice the receipts from the nearest largest special appeal, showing the regard parishioners have for the sisters and other retirees.

Briggs writes that the looming financial threat "sapped the creative energies of communities." if it be not that Sister Andree Fries, the 64- year-old executive director of the U retirement office, disagrees.

She says "the impact is more minimal than united might think" because members of orders "are self-same much about mission" and not worrying about their that will be needs. Also, orders are "spending their what may occur hereafter retirement money for current bills" -- in this way they are not uncomfortable at the significance

What about the drawed multi-billion-dollar gap? "Is it a big number? Yes" Fries said. "Am I discouraged that we'll at any time get there? I'm sobered, nevertheless not discouraged, because religious are can- do people"

a religious orders are financially healthy, further Fries' office reckons that alone 4 percent of current sisters are adequately storeed for their retirement needs. Typically, the riddle is worst in smaller orders.

Religious orders are independent from dioceses in administration and finance. however they often serve in instructs and other parish or diocesan institutions, in this way bishops and parishioners naturally be stirred a responsibility to help.

Program reach forthed

The religious orders' plight first gained national attention with a 1985 Wall public way Journal article by John Fialka. Contacted according to fellow Catholics who offered donations, Fialka helped organize SOAR (Support Our Aging Religious), which pioneered in fund-raising and last year received $14 million to aid retirees.

The U bishops then followed suit, sponsoring their first annual collection in 1988 subordinate to the new retirement office, co- sponsored with three organizations of women's and men's orders.

The annual December collection was scheduled to cease nearest year, but at their June meeting the bishops agreed to widen the program another 10 years.

Copyright CHICAGO SUN-TIMES 2006

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