Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation, Inc.
770 Lantern Hill Road
Shavertown, Pennsylvania18708
(570) 696-3169
December 28, 2007
Mr. James Quinn
Diocesan Secretary for Financial Services and Chief Financial Officer
Diocese of Scranton
300 Wyoming Avenue
Scranton, Pennsylvania18503
Msgr. John Sempa
666 North Main Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA18705
Subject: Diocesan Assessment
Dear Mr. Quinn and Msgr. Sempa,
In perusing the diocesan website, I note that the Diocese has set the rate of its Diocesan Assessment at 8.5% of parish income, to meet diocesan needs and for financial support of an array of services offered to parishes and diocesan institutions (refer to Diocese of Scranton, Questions and Answers about Diocesan Finances).
At Sacred Heart of Jesus – St. John Parish in Wilkes-Barre, the total parish income was $517,323 for the year ending June 30, 2006, and $509,371 for the year ending June 30, 2007. At the stated assessment rate of 8.5%, our assessment should be $43,972 or $43,297, depending on which fiscal year is used as the base year. According to our pastor, however, in the October 21, 2007 bulletin, our Diocesan Assessment is $6,970.76 per month, or $83,649 for the current year (2007 – 2008). This amount equates to an assessment rate of approximately 16%, or an overcharge of approximately $40,000 this year.
It is interesting to note that this is an overcharge of about 90%, similar to the overcharge of our parish school subsidy assessment ($232,144 actual, versus the standard 25% assessment of $129,331, or an 80% overcharge). Is it possible that the diocese used the same worksheet for both the school subsidy assessment and the diocesan assessment? Could this be the reason why it is considered an impossible task to recalculate the parish school subsidy assessments?
It is also interesting that the amount of the overcharge on the Diocesan Assessment is about $40,000, the same amount as the interest that would be charged on the $720,000 parish debt, if the interest moratorium was not in effect. Is there a true moratorium of interest on this debt, or has this annual interest charge been added to the Diocesan Assessment?
What is apparent is that Sacred Heart of Jesus – St. John Parish is definitely being overcharged in its Diocesan Assessments. Please reconcile and adjust accordingly. In the interim, on behalf of Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation Inc. and in the best interests of the parish, it is strongly suggested that the parish withhold future payment of this assessment until the matter is resolved, and appropriate adjustments are issued.
Regards,
Noreen W. Foti
President, Sacred Heart Wilkes-Barre Foundation, Inc.
CC: Most Rev. Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D., Bishop of Scranton
Most Reverend John M. Dougherty, D.D Vicar General
Msgr. Vincent J. Grimalia, V.G.
Msgr. Joseph C. Bambera, V.E., Canonical Consultant for Pastoral Planning
Father Michael F. Quinnan, E.V. for the Southern Pastoral Region
Father Philip A. Altavilla, E.V. for the Northern Pastoral Region
Assistant Pastor Fr. James Alco
Sacred Heart of Jesus – St. John Parish Finance Committee
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