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What do you know about our diocesan priests that are facing or in retirement?  Here are a few facts according to studies published by the National Federation of Priests' Councils (NFPC) and Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, Georgetown University (CARA):

• The median annual pension for all retired (senior) diocesan priests is $18,149 (2007) whereas; the average cost of living for these senior priests is estimated to be $32,119 according to national sources
• Social Security benefits for senior priests are minimal due to low annual incomes over their earning lifetime

• Diocesan priests are independent contractors often paying both the employee and employer portion of the Social Security & Medicare taxes

• There are 28,000 total diocesan priests in the U.S. with 3/4 of them still active 

• In 2007, 25% of diocesan priests in the U.S. were 75 years or older

• 50% of the all diocesan priest population still in active ministry expect to retire within the next 10 years (by 2019 or earlier)