Boston, Mass., Apr 25, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Archbishop Sean O'Malley of Boston launched the annual Catholic Appeal yesterday. The goal is $12 million and the archbishop is optimistic that the Catholics of Boston will come through. The campaign funds more than 80 programs in the local Church.
The archbishop said things are starting to get better for the archdiocese after some difficult years when angry parishioners cut their donations because of the priest sex-abuse scandal and parish closures, reported the Boston Channel. He said more than 20 percent of parishioners who had stopped giving are now making donations again.
The campaign may also be affected by Pope John Paul II’s death and the election of Pope Benedict XVI have led some people to reflect more on their identity as Catholics, the archbishop told the Boston Channel.
Parishioners will receive campaign information in their churches this weekend. The appeal will run until the end of the year.