Best-paid pastors in the United States

by Tom Gallagher on Jan. 19, 2012

Catholic bishops and priests do not make a lot in terms of annual compensation in their respective roles. On the other hand, permanent housing, food, pension benefits and health care coverage ain't too bad a deal, all things considered. I know of one bishop who likes to boast to his priests that he takes "no salary" (which is both funny and delusional, given the large estate on which he lives, an entertainment budget, a car and driver and numerous benefits he receives).

In the Protestant world, there are some pastors whose total compensation would make even some on Wall Street blush. Over at Huffington Post is a story on pastor compensation.

An excerpt:

From church closings and foreclosures of houses of worship across the nation to the limited number of clergy jobs for new rabbis, imams and pastors, the recession has hit religious Americans just as it has affected the tens of millions of the country's jobless.

Even before the recession, most spiritual leaders of small towns and big cities across the United States earned meager salaries, with annual pay for Catholic priests and imams ranging from $25,000 to $30,000 and the average Protestant pastor making $40,000 a year, according to a recent survey.

Yet, even in difficult times, some churches and pastors are soaring. While not a definitive guide, HuffPost Religion has compiled a slideshow of some of the best paid pastors in America. For several, their high income comes not only from employment as pastors, but also from TV appearances, book sales and charity management.

Religion for fun and lots and

Submitted by Jim McCrea (not verified) on Jan. 19, 2012.

Religion for fun and lots and lots of profit.

But let's find out what the average Catholic bishop has for a total household budget, shall we? How about a Cardinal?

Before we criticise the obvious sleaze-mongers described in the HuffPost article, let's look into the Catholic woodshed as well.

Ah sure and you are missing

Submitted by TomC (not verified) on Jan. 19, 2012.

Ah sure and you are missing the point lads. An Irish saying had it that
a pump in the yard and a priest in the family and you wwere all set. Here
in Ameerica I was surprised for a while at the number of secular priests who seemed to have unlimited resources. Ah, sure they had it from their families God Bless Them. Well, I sure did not attend a seminary loaded with guys from
wealthy families. But over time I learned a few things. Monies can be divied
up between where it really goes and where it ought to go. Some priests were
very successful in catering to wealthy widows. Of couse the money was for the
church. So much of it was made out to holy father Joe god bless him. I never visited a rectory that was short on the spirit and i do not mean the Holy Spirit. Its not all being honestly reported, to say the least.
Tomas na gopaleen.

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