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Vatican Back in the Black

Church pulls in $14.3M, makes profit for first time in three years

By Polly Davis Doig,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 2, 2011 7:28 AM CDT

(Newser) – Good news: The Vatican returned to the black last year, after three straight years in the red. The Catholic Church pulled in $14.3 million, it said in its annual financial report today, while the Vatican city state made $30.6 million, fueled largely by ticket sales at the Vatican Museums. The downside is that individual donations plummeted by 18%—almost $14.8 million—probably caused by the priest sex abuse scandal that re-erupted last year, notes the AP.

Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during the Angelus prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 29, 2011.
Pope Benedict XVI delivers his blessing during the Angelus prayer he celebrated from the window of his studio overlooking St. Peter's square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 29, 2011.   (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)
Pope Benedict XVI smiles during an audience to the diocese of Altamura, Gravina, and Aquaviva delle Fonti, at the Paolo VI hall in the Vatican on July 2, 2011.
Pope Benedict XVI smiles during an audience to the diocese of Altamura, Gravina, and Aquaviva delle Fonti, at the Paolo VI hall in the Vatican on July 2, 2011.   (Getty Images)
Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the Paolo VI hall in the Vatican for an audience to the diocese of Altamura, Gravina, and Aquaviva delle Fonti, on July 2, 2011.
Pope Benedict XVI arrives at the Paolo VI hall in the Vatican for an audience to the diocese of Altamura, Gravina, and Aquaviva delle Fonti, on July 2, 2011.   (Getty Images)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
guvner
Jul 3, 2011 2:28 AM CDT
I'm not Catholic but I donate yearly to the Church, and also to their charities. They do some of the best work in Africa.
saucier111
Jul 2, 2011 11:51 AM CDT
At this time we are writing the final chapter on religion, it was all man made. Have you ever heard of the council of nicea of 325,or the 6000 year old writing of the Sumerians or the old sanscript writings of Mahabharata.
Spudsy
Jul 2, 2011 11:38 AM CDT
but donations from churches worldwide, the so-called Peter's Pence, were down $14.8 million at $67.70 million ----  That sounds awfully low just for America, with over 60 million catholics. You catholics better start giving some more cash, the big man is watching. 

 
Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • profits • Vatican • priest sex abuse • Roman Catholic Church • sex abuse • Catholic Church sex scandals

 
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