PERTH, WA: January 19, 1989
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Dad's keen eye at marriage Christine Gee was watched closely by her father as she married John Hickey at Our Lady of the Missions church Craigie last Saturday. Rev Paul Gee, celebrant of the marriage, is a permanent deacon and chancellor of the diocese of Bunbury. The ceremony took place during nuptial Mass celebrated by Father Greg Donovan. Christine is the eldest daughter of Paul and Elsa Gee and John is the only son of Noel and Marie Hickey of Padbury.
Caring arm of Red Cross • Pages 10 and 11
Vatican
VATICAN CITY: The Vatican finances are still showing a huge yearly deficit but the full 1987 financial report just issued shows improvement in some areas.
The Vatican covered most of the $A74.1 million with a record $A58.4 million in to contributions Peter's Pence but for the remaining $A15.6 million it had to use up the last of reserves left over from Peter's. Pence of previous years. On the other hand, Vatican publishing and broadcasting services which account for about one-third of
the deficit lost a little less in 1987 than in 1986. Peter's Pence was significantly up in 1987 from the $A37 million of 1986. In 1977 the amount was only $A11.6 million. The largest contribution still comes from the United States Catholic parishes.
Personnel costs at $A83.3 million, up from $52.6 million in 1985 and $A67.3 million in 1986 were still the largest item but not as dramatic when figured in Italian lire because of international currency drops. C ommunications
operations in radio and publishing were the second largest cost at $A25.5 million.
Administrative costs of $A13.9 million were partially offset by fees and revenue amounting to $A8.3 million. Much of this, the report said, was used to maintain the international nature of the Church, with frequent international I communications and subsidies for poorer bishops attending Rome meetings. Vatican Radio's operating costs, excluding personnel and administration,
CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PETER'S PENCE UP, RESERVES EXHAUSTED actually declined in Italian lire but rose from $A4.3 million in 1985 to $A5.5 million in 1987. Nearly $A11.6 million was invested in equipment over the two years but when administrative and personnel costs were added to operations the total deficit for 1987 rose to $A20.6 million. In the printing and
publishing field, the Vatican Polyglot Press had a net profit of $A229,000, the Vatican Publishing Office a net profit of while $A136,000 L 'Osservatore Romano newspaper had a deficit of $6.2 million. The Vatican statement that its Peter's Pence reserves are now virtually
exhausted means that if future Peter's Pence contributions do not cover the deficits, it may be necessary to dip further into the 40-year-old investment fund that has already been used to cover earlier deficits. This month's full report was only the second such to be released by the Vatican, the other being in 1986.
See saw