Fall River Diocese: Parish Assessment Policy To Begin In January

The Diocese of Fall River, continuing to face difficult financial times, will soon be charging a tax or financial assessment to all its member parishes. The announcement was made last weekend in churches throughout the Diocese.

Spokesman John Kearns says parish assessments are in place in 90% of the dioceses across the country, but its never happened in Fall River till now.

"Bishop Da Cunha has spent the last year really, learning more about the diocese and examining finances, and talking with the Diocesan Finance Council. He's decided upon their consultation, that its time this diocese implement an assessment policy," said Kearns.

Kearns says a number of financial challenges have emerged over the past 20 years that impacted the financial stability of the diocese, including declining church attendance and rising costs.

He said beginning in January, parishes will be assessed between 8-and-14% of their ordinary revenue, depending on how much they take in.