The Netherlands: Church offerings on the increase Catholic Church offerings in the Netherlands registered an over one million euro increase in the period 2007-2008. But the parallel surge in expenses has led to a 5 million deficit in 2007. The data was made known on the occasion of the 2009 Church budget campaign presentation. The revenue of 1,420 Dutch parish churches raised by almost 5 million euros in 2007, out of 170 million sum total. This figure represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year while expenditure amounted to 175 million with a 5 million euro deficit. The positive trend is evident since the 2006 deficit amounted to 10 million euro and to 13 million in 2005. This means that despite increased expenditure, in 2007 parishes could afford minor resort to their own funds. Kerkbalans Church budget campaign earnings represent two thirds of parishes’ source of income, followed by fund-raising and revenue from Church services. Approximately half of this “fresh money” comes from the Kerkbalans program. The total proceeds in 2007 amounted to 60.2 million euros, representing a 2% increase compared to 2006. This is a remarkable increase considering that in the two previous years Kerkbalans had registered a mere 0.7% increase. Estimates for the year 2008 indicate a 2% increase and a total of 61.3 million euro. Taken singularly, each diocese register an evident increase, topped by the diocese of Rotterdam (4.3%) and followed by Groningen-Leuwarden (3,7%) and Harlem-Amsterdam (3,6%). While slight increases were registered in Roermond (0,37%) and Den Bosch (1,5%). Data shows that 44% of Catholic families gave their contribution to Kerkbalans with a mean annual increase of 1%. Situations differ from one diocese to the next, however, a remarkable downward trend was registered in the diocese of Roermond over the past two years. Families’ mean contribution amounts to 70 euros. If related to the 4.3 million Catholics living in the Netherlands, this figure represents a 14 euro contribution per parishioner. Portugal: agricultural crisis and the contribution of the laityDuring the Presbyteral Council meeting, the priests of Vila Real, capital of the northern Trás-os-Montes region, voiced their concern over the crisis affecting local farmers. “If present difficulties should continue, we would be witnessing a further decrease in agricultural population, with consequential unemployment and rural depopulation”. “The economic crisis has heavily affected agricultural produce price, chiefly olive oil and the olive market, and is rapidly spreading to the potato, rye, wine, dairy and meat sectors. Only chestnuts, with low cropping, secure reliable profits”. During the Conference, the prelates also addressed the question of the lay people’s professional cooperation in the dioceses’ Christian-inspired institutions whose contribution, they said, “ought to be marked by professional expertise and ethical standing”. In this framework, the Council pointed out “the disassociation of the professional element inserted within economically-oriented prospects, which too often neglect the moral values pertaining to social justice and the common good, from an ethics that is evidently replaced by sector or party militancy”. “In view of their professional contribution in the areas of health, education and youth formation – concludes the presbyterial communiqué – the laity’s education can’t be confined to liturgical activity or parish catechesis only. Rather, a team of skilled lay people and priests ought to deal with the reorganisation of the secretariats, taking into account the reality of each single pastoral area and of the diocesan community spirit most of all”. Belgium: condolence for tragedy of Termonde”A crazy, homicidal gesture that cast the country into terror and has hit our society in one of its most powerful symbols: the children’s safety and the parents’ confidence”. With these words, mgr. Luc Van Looy, bishop of Gand, in a message published on the 26 January, expresses condolence, on behalf of the Belgian Bishops, for the tragedy of Termonde, where on the 23 January a crazy man entered the local nursery and killed two children, one teacher and wounded others. “I give my condolence to the families of little Korneel and Léon, and to the family of Marita Blindeman – states the message -, and I express my solidarity with the families of the wounded children, the school management and staff. Nothing can comfort their pain, but I ensure them of my compassion, and invite the Catholic devotees to support them with their prayers. May the God of Resurrection give them the strength to live with this new reality. This tragedy – he concludes – has thrown a new challenge to all of us: rather than get stuck in fear, let’s respond to this gesture of unnecessary horror with extra solidarity and trust”.
