CHICAGO (CNS) – The Chicago Archdiocese has laid off 60 pastoral center employees and must consolidate some of its agencies because of a deficit in the budget of its administrative operations, according to Cardinal Francis E. George.

“Like so many other families and institutions, the Archdiocese of Chicago has suffered during the economic downturn of these past few years,” he said. “The archdiocese remains a financially secure institution with a strong asset base.”

However, he said, the archdiocese’s “administrative operations have run operating deficits of more than $30 million in each of the past four years.”

“Since this trend is unsustainable, I want to set out the measures we are taking to ensure prudent stewardship of our resources for years to come,” he explained.

The ongoing deficit has required the archdiocese to reduce the costs of its pastoral center operations, he said, which means eliminating 75 positions. Besides the 60 employees who have been laid off, the archdiocese will not fill 15 vacant positions. Of the 75 positions, 55 were full-time.

Those now out of a job will receive severance pay and continued health insurance coverage and can access services of an outplacement firm contracted by the archdiocese to help them find new jobs, he said.

“Our employees are faith-filled men and women who have worked tirelessly for the good of the church. Please keep them in your prayers,” the cardinal said. The “financial crunch” means the archdiocese also will reduce its agencies and ministry offices from 16 to nine, he said.

Ministries “that implement Catholic social teaching,” he said, such as the Respect Life, Immigration, Peace and Justice offices and Kolbe House Jail Ministry will be consolidated into a new Office of Human Solidarity and Dignity.

A new division called Ministry Formation Initiatives will combine other services. There will be a focus on providing training and formation resources, he said, “in collaboration with our field vicariates.”