The others were dead, had left the priesthood or were no longer in the ministry, said Mr. Tayek, the diocesan spokesman.

"That's normal," said a diocesan spokesman, John Kal, when he was asked whether the diocese usually made such changes without parish comment.

"The new arrivals weren't able to enable the local parish to meet all its bills," said Frank DeRosa, a diocesan spokesman.

Nineteen parishes passed the test and one new parish will be formed from two of those to be closed, said Jay Berman, a diocesan spokesman.

The Rev. Carl J. Marucci, a diocesan spokesman, said there would be no comment on the cases beyond the bishop's official statement.

After the verdict yesterday, Michael McGee, a diocesan spokesman, said "who we're worried first about are the victims and their families."

Patrick F. McGee, a diocesan spokesman, said a dozen claims or fewer remained pending.

A "large majority" of the 15 have long stopped being active as priests, said the diocesan spokesman, Frank DeRosa, though he could not immediately describe their status.

Frank DeRosa, a diocesan spokesman, put it this way: "The diocese could not conclude with certainty who was telling the truth.

Financially, the diocese has recovered from a crisis 13 years ago, when it was rapidly draining its reserve funds, said Frank DeRosa, a diocesan spokesman.