(CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz)
By Patrick Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
In 10 short years, the Diocese of Honolulu could have more retired priests than active ones, creating a looming financial challenge. This is why the diocese will have its first annual Collection for Retired Diocesan Priests the weekend of Nov. 7 and 8.
For a while now, Hawaii’s diocesan priests have consistently numbered a little more than 30. Meanwhile, the number of retired clergy grows.
Ten years ago, the diocese had 16 retired priests. Today there are 25. By the end of the decade, the diocese predicts a number closer to 40, according to Father Gregorio Honorio, the diocesan vicar for clergy.
(These numbers do not include the approximately 30 priests from other dioceses who work in Hawaii, or the 50-or-so religious order priests assigned here.)
Active diocesan priests are paid by the parishes in which they work. Retired priests receive a monthly pension check drawn from the diocesan priest pension fund.
“Like many such funds,” Bishop Larry Silva wrote in a Sept. 10 letter to Hawaii Catholics on the support of retired priests, “it is nowhere near being fully funded to meet all the needs of our present and future retired priests.”
Hence, the need for a special collection.
The retirement age for priests in Hawaii is 70. Some choose to work beyond that age. Some retire earlier for health reasons. Hawaii has three such “medical” retirements, said Father Honorio.
The size of a retired priest’s pension check varies by how long he has worked in the diocese. Those who have logged only 10 years, perhaps having joined the diocese at a later age, receive a lower rate of pay than the priest who has served here 40 years.
Retired priests pay for their own housing, food, car and non-medical insurance. The diocese covers medical and dental insurance. The retiree is responsible for medical copays up to $300 a year. Anything over that, the diocese pays.
The closest thing to a diocesan priest retirement home in Hawaii is a section of One Archer Lane, the condo high-rise on King Street towering over the old Catholic cemetery. There the diocese has 11 apartments it rents to retired priests at a lower-than-market rate. Six priests currently live there.
Some retired priests have their own apartments, or live in parish rectories, or with family. Eight live on the Mainland.
The diocese provides a Catholic Charities Hawaii caseworker who checks in on the priests regularly. Father Honorio says that he also personally makes himself available for help when needed.
Priests now approaching the 70-year mark started out at a time when priest salaries were minimal, but housing, food, medical, insurance, and use of a car were provided. Priests were not supposed to worry about money; they would be cared for. This arrangement didn’t necessarily encourage large savings accounts or investments. A priest also lacks the financial cushions provided by a spouse, children or homeownership. Their Social Security checks, whose size depends on the number of past earnings, are more than likely small.
On the other hand, diocesan priests do not take the vow of poverty. Some may be independently well off. And ex-military chaplains have generous military pensions.
Father Honorio said that if a retired priest’s total retirement income does not reach a minimum livable standard, he may appeal to the bishop for subsidy.
The November collection is not to be confused with the religious retirement collection, an annual national appeal for retired religious sisters, brothers and priests taken up in December.
