The Diocese of Manchester will close the home of Roman Catholic Bishop John McCormack by June 30 as an expense-cutting move brought on in part by clerical sex abuse lawsuits.
The diocese, which covers all of New Hampshire, also will shut down Emmaus House, a youth retreat center, and eliminate 17 jobs. Two part-time housekeeping positions at McCormack's home also will be eliminated.
"Our life and ministry face many challenges these days, including limitations on our financial resources," McCormack said Tuesday. "Yet, I am confident that our plan for reconfiguration over the next few months offers solid hope that the mission of the church will continue in a new and reinvigorated way."
The Diocesan Finance Council recommended the diocese trim at least $500,000 from its $2.5 million operating budget.
Patrick McGee, spokesman for the diocese, said the church wiped out its savings of roughly $2.2 million in payments to people who claimed they were sexually abused by priests. That, plus losses on investments in the economic downturn, have left the diocese with little financial cushion, he said.
The church also faces a drop in donations by parishioners partly because of reaction to the sex abuse scandal, but also because of the faltering economy, McGee said. The diocese won't know exactly how much donations have fallen off until the end of its fiscal year in July.
McCormack, bishop since 1998, lives alone in the large brick home in Manchester. The building was a gift to the diocese in the 1940s.
McGee said the diocese has not decided whether to sell the property, but said it will not be used by the church. He said closing the home will save the diocese $47,000 a year.
The bishop has not decided where he will live, but McGee said the most likely location would be a church rectory.