ASIA/IRAQ- Chaldean church publishes salaries bishops/priests
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Baghdad (Agenzia Fides). The annual Synodal Assembly was held in Baghdad. There, the Bishops from the Chaldean Church established and published the salary levels of all Chaldean diocesan priests and bishops. According to the Chaldean Apostolate, “it has been determined” that the monthly salaries of Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako (and members of the Chaldean Bishopric hierarchy) will be 1.6 millions Iraqi dinars ($1,050 equal) starting September next year. Priests’ salaries will be set for 1.2 million Iraqi inars (about $850 US). The bishops also reiterated the gratuitousness and indisputable nature of the services provided to the dioceses. The diocesan funds should continue to receive the Mass offering.
As early as March 2013, a few days after taking office, Patriarch Sako issued a communiqué in which he called on all those responsible for institutions associated with the Chaldean Church to observe the criteria of fairness and transparency when managing financial resources . He had recommended that all financing projects should be submitted to him, as per the accounting laws.
In his address at the opening of Chaldean Synod (see Fides 23/8/2022), Cardinal Sako specifically referred to the negative effects of the global economic crisis on the network of charitable, social and work supported by the Churches of the Middle East. The Chaldean patriarch said that “the economic resources of dioceses” are limited. The charities that have helped us are now focusing their efforts on Ukraine…Even the students of our schools have difficulty paying their fees”.
The Synod of the Chaldean Church consists of Patriarch Sako, 25 Bishops, and the Patriarch. The synodal assembly currently taking place in Baghdad, chaired by the Patriarch, is attended by 17 bishops, who were also received by Iraqi President Barham Salih on Tuesday 23 August (see photo), while 7 bishops – including some bishops from diaspora communities – have canceled their participation for health reasons. (GV) (Agenzia Fides, 25/8/2022)
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Source: fides.org
