I usually attend Mass at a church in Boston, but just got a letter from the local parish finance council out here in the suburbs, asking for a $200 donation to help meet a budget shortfall. Mass attendance and donations are off 25% this year in a parish hard hit by the sex-abuse scandals. The committee says that if they can't make ends meet, the parish will have to lay off some staff in the areas of "liturgy, youth ministry, ministry formation, and education".
As it happens, this parish is known across the diocese for its awful music: the music director can't play, or teach, or even count the beat well. So I'm thinking of offering $500 if they lay her off! This could be the salvation of the parish!
