Illinois priest, Fr. John Regan, secretly steered offerings from his parishioners into a bank account he controlled, then used the money to gamble at riverboat casinos and pay his credit card bills, authorities say.The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the 45-year-old priest was charged with stealing more than $300,000 from St. Walter Church in Roselle while he served as pastor there between 2006 and July 2008.
Regan could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the most serious theft charges.
"He was trusted not only by the church, but by the thousands of parishioners he was chosen to lead," DuPage County State's Attorney Joseph Birkett said. "It is alleged he repaid that trust by stealing from them."
Regan was removed as pastor of the church last July after an audit by the Catholic Diocese of Joliet showed irregularities in church finances - information that was passed along to Birkett's office.
Church officials said at the time it appeared much of the missing $112,000 uncovered by the audit was "related to gambling" and acknowledged Regan had gone into therapy for an "apparent gambling addiction."
The Joliet diocese already had repaid St. Walter that missing money - and likely will cover further losses as well - spokesman Doug Delaney said.
"We were pretty shocked in the first place, and this, I guess, would be a further shock. It's a very unfortunate situation - and our main concern is for the parishioners," Delaney said.
Regan, a priest since 1989, allegedly created a secret bank account and deposited cash and checks written by St. Walter parishioners, authorities charge.
On Thursday, parishioners said they were staggered by the charges filed against their former pastor.
"It's a shock. I really wasn't expecting this to happen," said Myrna Lee, who has two children attending the St. Walter school.
Regan has yet to surrender to face the charges, but a DuPage County judge late Thursday issued an arrest warrant, setting his bail at $1 million.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce
(Source: CTHUS)