April 8, 2003

NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For More Information, Contact:
Bud Bunce (503) 233-8373
bbunce@archdpdx.org

Pastoral Center to reduce staff

        At a meeting at the Pastoral Center on Tuesday, April 8, Archbishop John
G. Vlazny announced that twenty employees will receive layoff notices effective
June 30th. Three other employees will work reduced hours. The budget
reduction is due to limited available resources resulting primarily from the cost of
settling the lawsuits concerning abuse. Archbishop Vlazny said, "We regret the
need to layoff these dedicated staff members, and it is with considerable sadness
that we do so now. These folks are all treasured colleagues and friends. We
simply will not have the financial resources available to continue current staffing
levels, nor to provide the same level of service to the Catholic community in the
Archdiocese."

        Fr. Dennis O'Donovan, Vicar General and Moderator of the Curia, noted
that the announcement was "given early so that the employees would have time
to seek new jobs." He said, "Assistance will be offered to employees seeking
new positions, counseling, and severance pay, and in some cases retraining."
Fr. O'Donovan indicated that a hiring freeze instituted a year ago has left four
additional staff positions unfilled. The reduction in force will affect more
professional/managerial positions than support staff positions. In addition to the
staff reductions, every department of the Pastoral Center will see a budget
reduction of 20% – 50% next year. The total reduction amounts to over $2
million from the Pastoral Center budget 2003 -2004.

        No area of service or ministry will be totally closed, but parishes will notice
reduced service from the Pastoral Center next year, and a severe curtailment of
service from some offices. Chancellor Mary Jo Tully said, "We are grateful that
employees have continued to serve the Archdiocese even though they were
aware of the difficult situation facing the Archdiocese."
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