[Former rector Jay] Lawlor, 42, who was cleared in a jury trial of the assault charge, served at St. Luke’s for 21 months. The payout was equivalent to more than a three-year severance package.
Lawlor’s 2010 compensation was $125,000, which included $85,000 in salary, plus housing and benefits.
That year, the church had a $630,650 operating budget and $1.9 milllion in investments at the end of the year, according to records shared last year with the Gazette.
[blockquote]”It’s amazing what time and forgiveness can do,” Mercadal said.[/blockquote]
And it is amazing what time, a trial, separation, and money can do.
Good lord. A priest making more than 100k a year? What does he need a housing allowance for? I don’t even make half that.
The priest who received me into the Church makes less than $50k. This is quite shocking.
My thoughts exactly, #2 & 3!!! I have no problem with clergy making a good wage, but that is ridiculous! Even worse, a half-million dollar severance package?!?!?!? Insane!!!
Honestly, if I overheard part of a conversation where a half million severance package was being discussed but I didn’t catch the “for whom” part, I’d have guessed they were talking about a mid level Wall Street banker.
Yes, it is hard to figure. Keep reading about the financial problems for TEC and then one reads this item. Dio of W MICH lost 21 percent of ASA between 2002 and 2010, but only reduced churches from 60 to 59. Infant Baptisms declined by 45 percent and Marriages by 43 percent. In 2010, there were only 79 Marriages for the 59 churches. At this rate of decline the Dio will run out of Marriages before they run out of Money. Statmann
I was canonically resident in this Diocese from 1989–2009. For the most part every year from1989 [actually even beforehand] has shown a decrease in average Sunday attendance, baptisms, and marriages. The majority of parishes are staffed by part-time clergy. Very sad.