The missing paycheck: Research reveals new evidence on the racial wage gap
*Apropos of the Pope’s visit. If you’re Catholic, how does this pan out in your parish? VL
By Nicole Sotelo, National Catholic Reporter
You may not think about the paychecks of people who work at your parish, but I recommend Catholics pay closer attention. In fact, the future of the church may depend on it.
[pullquote][tweet_dis]U.S. Catholic lay ministers earn an average of $32,547 per year. But other religious workers who serve in parishes with large Hispanic populations receive significantly less wages.[/tweet_dis][/pullquote]Thanks to a recent study and report, led by Prof. Hosffman Ospino at Boston College, it is clear that Catholics are not only suffering from a gender wage gap among those who minister in the church. We’re also suffering from a racial wage gap.
What’s in a paycheck?
Priests earn an average of $42,896 per year of taxable income. Lay ministers, the majority of whom are women, earn an average of $32,547 per year. But the Hispanic Ministry in Catholic Parishes report revealed that laity, clergy and other religious workers who serve in parishes with large Hispanic populations receive significantly less wages.
For example, paid directors of religious education in parishes with Hispanic ministry — the majority of whom are laity and 50 percent of whom identify as Hispanic — receive an average of only $26,857 per year. The parish directors of Hispanic ministry — where 64 percent identify as Hispanic — receive an average of a mere $24,078 per year.
Click HERE to read the full story.
[Photo by Roman Catholic Archdioces/Flickr]
