Scandal, Economy Force Layoffs at Archdiocese

The beleaguered Archdiocese of Boston eliminated 15 staff positions as part of budget cuts made necessary in part by the Roman Catholic Church’s ongoing sex abuse scandal in which it has played a central role.

The archdiocese said that the economic downturn and fallout from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks were the driving forces behind its move to slash its budget by a third, or about $8 million. But it also acknowledged the scandal concerning pedophile priests--which has roiled Boston and other archdioceses throughout the country--had hampered its fund-raising efforts.

Boston Cardinal Bernard Law, the leader of the archdiocese, faces allegations he knew that several priests were accused of pedophilia but failed to keep them away from children, instead shuttling them from parish to parish.

Law’s refusal to resign over his handling of the matter has led to disenchantment among Catholics here, and many stopped giving to his annual fund-raising drive.