The amount of church collections in 2006 decreased by Lm74,000 over 2005 probably due because fewer people are going to mass, the Archdiocese of Malta yesterday announced during the launch of its Pastoral Financial Report for 2006.

Financial controller Robert Agius said fewer parish projects and fewer contributions from the church could have also caused the decrease in collections.

The amount spent on expenditure on maintenance works and other projects decreased by Lm645,000 as opposed to 2005.

Mr Agius said that the Church was being very careful in spending and in 2006 reduced expenditure to Lm714,000 with a balance of Lm628,000 which in turn was redistributed among around 100 organisations. The Archdiocese also received Lm219,000 in gains from investments.

There was a reduction of 26 per cent of income amounting to Lm419,000 which can be partly explained that in 2005 the Church received one-off arrears on interest following adjustment of Church bonds.

Another reason for this decrease was the result of weak international exchange rates and lower income from the homes, said Mr Agius.

The Church spent Lm66,000 in subsidies allowing young priests to further their studies in foreign universities.

Another Lm100,000 was spent in subsidies for the homes for the elderly. Another Lm82,000 were collected from residents in Church homes and other increases of Lm80,000.

Mr Agius said that church entities received Lm183,000 in state grants while there was a Lm73,000 increase in revenue collected through fundraising.