BOSTON (CWN) — Amid parish closures and dramatic cuts in the number of chancery staff, the number of lay employees of the archdiocese of Boston who earned more than $150,000 a year increased from five in 2006 to 17 in 2011. Despite the elimination of 50 positions, payroll costs increased from $8.3 million to $9.2 million.
Last year, the archdiocesan superintendent of schools earned more than $351,000, while the top attorney earned over $326,000 and the chancellor received more than $276,000.
“To focus on salaries and not look at the broader picture is vastly unfair,” said archdiocesan spokesman Terrence Donilon. “These folks are immensely talented people who are helping one of the largest archdioceses in the country repair itself.
“The Church is in a much better position than it was 10 years ago, and that’s in no small part due to the talented people the cardinal has brought around him,” he said.