Mar 30, 2008 10:43 pm US/Eastern
Pastor Allegedly Stole Church Funds To Gamble
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. (CBS) ―
A beloved White Plains priest has been accused of stealing money from parishioners to feed his gambling habit. Rev. Patrick Dunne may face criminal charges.
The evening mass brought bad news for parishioners at the Church Of Our Lady Of Sorrows on Mamaroneck Avenue. They were deeply saddened when they were told Dunne was permanently removed from the church, after accusations of stealing money from the church to feed 'a very powerful gambling addiction.'
"It's very sad," said Carla Iarocci. "Addictions are horrible. We all know that."
"He was a very good priest," added Charlie Iarocci. "One of my favorites."
The news delivered by the Chancellor of the Archdiocese, Monsignor William Belford.
"The good news is father is in a place getting rehabilitation and therapy," Belford told CBS 2. "He's a priest. We love him and support him."
The Archdiocese first became aware of the problem in November, when it discovered undocumented checks were being cashed. That prompted the chancellor to come to White Plains for a face to face with Dunne.
It is not clear how much money may have been taken, but the church says it has referred the matter to Westchester District Attorney Janet Difiore, and criminal charges are possible.
This for a priest praised
Dunne was remembered as a compassionate man, and a prodigious fundraiser – he helped shepherd the church's recent $3 million renovation.
"We all sometimes succumb to temptation. You try best not to get involved. But things happen. People make mistakes," said parishioner Tony Plato.
While parishioners will not have the power to decide Dunne's fate, they do have the power to forgive - and many have already found that forgiveness in their hearts.
A new priest has been assigned and the Archdiocese says it has changed procedures for handling money at the church.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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