They forgot that commandment; "Thou shalt not get caught stealing."
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Authorities: 2 priests stole from parish
By LAURA WIDES-MUNOZ, Associated Press WriterThu Sep 28, 10:05 PM ET
Two Roman Catholic priests stole millions in offerings and gifts made to
their parish over several years, authorities said Thursday.
Monsignor John Skehan, who was pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic
Church for four decades, was arrested Wednesday night. Prosecutors say
he and the Rev. Francis Guinan stole a total of $8.6 million from the
church, using the money to buy property, vacations and other assets,
investigators said.
The 79-year-old Skehan was arrested at Palm Beach International Airport
as he returned from Ireland and was being held on $400,000 bond on grand
theft charges.
Guinan, who succeeded Skehan three years ago, has disappeared and was
being sought, authorities said. He is alleged to have stolen an
unspecified amount of money to take gambling trips to Las Vegas and the
Bahamas.
Guinan had an "intimate relationship" with a former bookkeeper at St.
Patrick's Catholic Church, where he previously worked, according to a
police report. Denis Hamel, the chief financial officer for the Diocese
of Palm Beach, told police Guinan had paid the woman's American Express
bills and her child's school tuition with funds from St. Vincent's that
were not recorded on the church books.
"Millions of dollars that should have gone to helping the homeless folks
or the school itself" didn't, said Amos Rojas Jr., a special agent with
the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
An anonymous tip in June 2005 led police and the church to launch the
investigation.
An audit of church books detected the theft and the investigation
continues to find possible misappropriation, said Preston Mighdoll,
assistant state attorney in Palm Beach County.
Investigators say Skehan created several "slush" accounts, and
instructed church workers to funneled there to hide it from the Palm
Beach Diocese. The thefts began in 2001, police said.
Skehan is charged with grand theft of $100,000 or more between September
2001 and January 2006, while Guinan faces the same charge for activity
from September 2003 to April 2005.
Specifics about where most of the $8.6 million went or precisely how it
was taken were not included in court records.
Skehan's attorney, Ken Johnson, said he thought the multimillion dollar
figure was "over sensationalized."
"My reading of the probable cause affidavit indicates that the amount of
money he's actually accused of misappropriating amounts to about
$325,000, which is a far cry from $8.6 million," Johnson said.
Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach said the two
priests were placed on administrative leave and will not have permission
"to exercise publicly their priestly ministry" until the criminal matter
is resolved.
Parishioners reacted with surprise to the news Thursday. Joan Kopins was
among a small group of parishioners leaving afternoon Mass at St.
Vincent Ferrer Church, which she has attended for more than 20 years.
She wiped away tears as she got into her car.
"You can't judge because you haven't walked in their shoes," Kopins said.
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John Hachmann aa #1782
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities"
-Voltaire
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