DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – 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.
Guinan had an “intimate relationship” with a former bookkeeper at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, where he previously worked, police said. Denis Hamel, the chief financial officer for the Diocese of Palm Beach, told police Guinan had paid the woman’s 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, an 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, officials said.
Investigators say Skehan created “slush” accounts, and instructed church workers to funnel money there to hide it from the diocese.
Bishop Gerald Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach said the priests were placed on leave and will not have permission “to exercise publicly their priestly ministry” until the criminal matter is resolved.
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