The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago said its 3-year-old fund-raising drive has raised record pledges despite a declining economy and the priest sex abuse scandal.
Cardinal Francis George said parishioners have promised $220 million in a continuing campaign to expand schools and refurbish buildings, and the giving never let up during last year's media coverage of the scandal.
"All the way along I was checking, waiting to see the bad news, and the bad news wasn't coming," George said Thursday.
The archdiocese said the campaign is the largest ever by an American diocese.
The money is dedicated to a range of construction and renovation needs. The archdiocese says at least 80 percent of the money will go back to each of the 374 parishes where it was pledged.
George said parishioners looked past the scrutiny of abusive priests and saw their parishes needed stronger backing.
"We're Catholics not because every bishop is a saint," he said. "We're Catholics because that's where you go to get the gifts of Christ."