LOS ANGELES -- The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is laying off at least 60 workers and cutting eight programs as it tries to bounce back from a $4.3 million deficit.
The announcement came two weeks after the diocese - the nation's largest - opened a $195 million cathedral. Critics have long said the new cathedral would harm other programs, according to The Associated Press. (See story: $195 million cathedral opens amid controversy)
Cardinal Roger Mahony said the archdiocese's fiscal troubles have nothing to do with the cathedral project. Instead, he said, the deficit is due to losses from stock market investments.
"I feel very, very saddened for people who are not going to be on the payroll," Mahony said. "We're trying to handle it as gently as we can."
The archdiocese, which serves 5 million Catholics, is eliminating jobs in its headquarters and cutting some outreach ministries, including those to college students, people with disabilities and gays and lesbians. Other programs, such as marriage encounter retreats, will be scaled back, according to the AP.
