Almighty cost of hosting pilgrims
Sarah Price; 22/6/08
NSW taxpayers could be hit for a bill four times that footed by Canadians and Germans when they hosted World Youth Day. The Cologne archdiocese, which hosted WYD in 2005, said that out of a total cost of €100 million ($163.9 million), 15 per cent was contributed by various levels of government. In Toronto in 2002, out of an operating budget of $C87 million ($89.7 million), plus a subsequent deficit of approximately $C33 million - which was picked up by Catholic dioceses across the country - government subsidies totalled about $C18 million in cash grants and in-kind support, said Father Thomas Rosica, the national director and CEO of World Youth Day 2002.
See: http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/almighty-cost-of-hosting-pilgrims/2008/06/21/1214009167373.html
Tags: Australia, Christianity, WYD