Fla. priest sentenced for stealing from church

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markeverett49

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This is an ugly story about two pastors who “misappropriated” upwards of 9 million dollars from a single parish over several decades. One pled guilty to theft of much less than that and the other pled not guilty but was convicted at a recent trial. The whole thing has played out over nearly two years and a) I’m glad to see that it’s over with, and b) I’m glad both men recieved jail time, as they so “richly” deserved it.

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida priest convicted in February of stealing money from his church has been sentenced to four years in prison.

The Rev. Francis Guinan, 66, was found guilty of second-degree grand theft. Prosecutors had charged him with stealing $488,000 from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, a first-degree felony. But jurors found him guilty on the lesser charge of stealing less than $100,000.

Guinan had faced up to 15 years in prison at Wednesday’s hearing. He claimed he did nothing wrong.

Another priest who acknowledged stealing money from the same church was sentenced Tuesday to 14 months in prison. The Rev. John Skehan, 81, pleaded guilty in his case. He also will serve seven years probation and will pay more than $700,000 in restitution.

palmbeachpost.com/search/content/gen/ap/FL_Church_Theft.html
 
Satan works the hardest in the church it seems…It’s a pity some are so willing to do his bidding
 
Just goes to show priests are people to and subject the same temptations as all of us.
 
After we had an Iowa nun with a gambling problem, nothing surprises me.
 
Beau I met a nun once that had the same addiction…I was shocked that a nun would gamble to begin with…None of the ones I ever knew would have done it. or even went into a casino to in the first place

She left the convent. I don’t know if it was by choice or request…She seemed a pleasant person, but not anyone that stuck me as a person that would join a religious order to begin with
 
redrosetea said:
Satan works the hardest in the church it seems…It’s a pity some are so willing to do his bidding
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Unfortunately, he’s not having to work very hard in some cases…
I live in the Diocese of Palm Beach and there are good priests here, but also venal, cowardly, and lazy ones. I sometimes refer to it as “The Island of Misfit Priests.” But as Thomas More said, “Times are never so bad but that a good man may live in them.”
 
What gives me hope when I hear of sins like this being committed within holy Mother Church, is our Lord’s infallible words when he said the gates of hell shall not prevail.
 
Don’t get too downhearted about it. Priests are tempted too, probably quite strongly, because of who they are. It’s a powerful position, in some ways, and I’d guess you’d have a lot of money coming in in a weathy parish.

Also, it’s $9 mill. over several decades. Not excusing it, just that media likes to play these things up.
 
Dear Lord, heal those who were victimized by the theft of these priests. Restore their trust in the church. Give them the wisdom to understand that priests are human and sinners as well, and the misdeeds of these two fallen members does not define the purpose and mission of our church…and that is to lead all sinners to heave. We ask all these prayers through the mercy of God and the intercession of our Blessed Mother. amen.
 
Defrocked? I’m not sure what that means, but they weren’t laicized.
 
If that’s the case, then they weren’t defrocked. They may offer Mass in private. (One assumes they say Mass daily, as other priests outside parishes do.)
 
The most disturbing thing about this is not the crime in and of itself, but the quote, “I did nothing wrong!”
 
Tigg said:
The most disturbing thing about this is not the crime in and of itself, but the quote, “I did nothing wrong!”
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I agree. That was ‘the second pastor.’ He went to trial and lost, all along the way claiming that the fault lay not with him but with the Diocese’s lax accounting practices and shoddy oversight. He maintained that he had unlimited discretion with up to $50,000 At A Time. I believe the Diocese was glad he was convicted and will spend a few years in jail.
 
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