Catholic church pastor suspected of embezzling $400,000-plus from Metro Detroit congregation

A catholic priest is under suspicion of betraying his congregation. 

Father Edward Belczak, who has been with St. Thomas More Catholic church in Troy since 1984, is suspected of embezzling "north of $400,000," Archdiocese of Detroit spokesman Joe Kohn said.

Belczak has been suspended by the church effective this past Tuesday, or as the church phrases it under canon law, “temporarily excluded from the office of pastor.”

The alleged misappropriation and mismanagement include:

• Taking excess compensation beyond archdiocesan policies, estimating a loss of $92,000 to the parish over the past six years. 
• Accepting and directing funds to himself that should have been posted to parish accounts, estimating a loss to the parish of $16,000 over the past six years.
• Compensating, with benefits, an individual best described as a “ghost employee,” estimating a loss of $240,000 to the parish over the past six years.
• Maintaining improper medical/dental insurance coverage for an individual, estimating a loss of approximately $26,000 to the parish over the past six years.
• Authorizing a long-term disability policy for one employee, while not providing a similar benefit to other parish staff members, estimating a loss of $20,000 to the parish.
• Allowing for the operation of the St. Thomas More Travel Group as a parish-related activity, while none of the financial transactions, records or bank accounts were disclosed for financial reporting or official purposes.
• Accepting, but not depositing or recording in parish accounts, residual commission checks to the St. Thomas More Travel Group, estimating a loss of $25,000 to the parish over the past six years.
• Failing to record or deposit monies received through the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day special collections according to archdiocesan policies; failing to monitor currency in an amount over $10,000, found in an employee’s office desk.

A travel program that operated independently from the church which Kohn said had not reported any financial transactions to the Archdiocese — revenues or expenditures — is also being investigated. 

The travel site, which is links to the St. Thomas More website, is currently offering a trip to Israel from March 10 to March 19.

The Archdiocese initially uncovered the suspicious accounting and forwarded their findings to the Troy Police Department, which is conducting an independent criminal investigation.

MLive Detroit could not reach Troy police officials for comment Thursday.

"Sadly, this isn't the first case," said Kohn. "Any time when you're talking about a parish's finances, you're talking about money that is contributed by the faithful."

Because of the sacred nature of the contributions to the church, Kohn said the Archdiocese works to be transparent with its parishioners in cases of suspected financial misdeeds.

The accusations against Belczak, who has earned a reputation as being a highly entertaining and beloved pastor, according to the Detroit Free Press, surprised his congregation, which has grown largely because of Belczak's presence over the last three decades.

"We're all pretty shocked and saddened," said Mary Jane Doherty, who has been a member of St. Thomas More parish for 17 years, told the Free Press. "It's a very sad day for us. ... We're praying for him."

Monsignor John Zenz, episcopal vicar of the Northwest Region and pastor of Holy Name Parish, Birmingham, has been named the new administrator of St. Thomas More Parish.