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Diocese of Limburg slips into deficit for the first time - financial crisis on the way?
The Diocese of Limburg will report a deficit of 810,000 euros for the first time in 2024, triggered by rising costs and falling revenues.
Diocese of Limburg slips into deficit for the first time - financial crisis on the way?
In 2024, the Catholic diocese of Limburg closed a budget year for the first time with a deficit of around 810,000 euros. This is reported by the hessenschau. The reasons for the loss lie in higher personnel costs and a decline in church tax revenue. In the previous year there was an annual surplus of 20.3 million euros, which was made possible primarily by positive interest rate developments.
Vicar General Wolfgang Pax emphasizes that despite the deficit, the diocese remains in a solid financial position. Provisions have been strengthened and a budget security concept is being worked on to address future loss of income. According to forecasts, the deficit will grow to more than 100 million euros by 2035.
Financial challenges
The diocese's revenues amounted to 286.9 million euros in 2024, while expenses were significantly higher at 312.4 million euros. Church tax revenue last year amounted to around 220 million euros, which marks a further decline compared to previous years. Social megatrends such as demographic change and increasing secularization are also putting a strain on the diocese's financial conditions bistumlimburg.de supplemented.
A strategic project to improve the financial situation was launched. Comprehensive planning is being undertaken in order to better master the challenges of the next few years. “We have to align budgetary decisions with our church missions,” explains Pax.
Important institutions in the diocese
The financial difficulties also affect other entities within the diocese. This is evident from the negative final balance of the Episcopal See of Limburg with a deficit of 1.66 million euros. On the other hand, the school foundation of the Limburg diocese was able to achieve a balanced result, while the Limburg cathedral chapter generated a slight surplus. A negative result of 0.34 million euros is reported for the school foundation for 2024. But this was compensated for by reserves.
The financial situation remains tense Vatican News, and the financial administration must continue to find creative solutions to cushion the deficits without directly affecting the budget. Nevertheless, the diocese remains true to its social and pastoral commitments, even as financial challenges grow.