The retired Roman Catholic bishop of Cleveland has testified at the trial of a former top church accountant accused of receiving $785,000 in kickbacks.Bishop Anthony M. Pilla testified Thursday that he was unaware of any such backdoor payments by outside contractors.
He called the defendant, 51-year-old Joseph Smith, a highly valued and respected co-worker and said he was shocked to learn of the alleged kickbacks.
The defense says the alleged payments were part of a pattern of secret church accounts.
The church says it was a victim in the alleged embezzlement.
A co-defendant was convicted last fall and is awaiting sentencing.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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