A priest was removed from a parish because he’s being investigating for misusing parish funds:
Vito Colucci Jr., an investigator based in Stamford, said he documented at least $200,000 in church money Fay spent on limousine rides, dinners at famous restaurants, cruises and gifts. Local and federal authorities are investigating Fay, who has not been charged.
The associate pastor was appointed to replace him, but then resigned in short order, admitting that he and the parish bookeeper had, on their own, and without the diocese’s knowledge, hired a private investigator to , well, investigate Fay.
Madden called the past four years "a living hell" for him. He said the diocese is "ripping mad" at him and the bookkeeper "for what we saw as a prudent effort to protect ourselves."
"I don’t know what is going to happen to me now, but whatever it is, it will be a welcome relief from the extreme physical and emotional strain I have been suffering," Madden said. "I simply could not stand behind that altar and look out at you good people, knowing what was being done to you."
But Madden backed off the comments in a letter to parishioners released later in the day by the diocese.
"The Diocese had no knowledge that I hired an investigator," Madden wrote in the letter. "In hindsight, I realize I made a huge mistake which has further complicated matters.
"In my actions and words, I betrayed your trust and the trust of my Bishop, who has been working diligently to deal with the situation at hand and to arrive at the truth of these matters," he wrote. "I also misled you into doubting that the Diocese is fully engaged in vigorously working for a just and prudent resolution of this matter."
From a previous NYTimes story:
Public records show that Father Fay owns a condominium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., with Clifford A. Fantini, who is also known as Cliff Martell. Mr. Fantini is identified on a bridal industry Web site as a fashion show director and producer who has worked with Bride’s Magazine and the designer Oleg Cassini.
Last year, Father Fay and Mr. Fantini paid $449,000 for the Florida property. Public records also show that both men have lived at an apartment on East 63rd Street in Manhattan.
….
In 2002, as Roman Catholic churches around the nation were struggling with child sex-abuse cases, Father Fay was appointed to the Sexual Misconduct Review Board of the Diocese of Bridgeport, a board whose members included a former state’s attorney and a police detective.
A report on the latest from another paper:
He told parishioners that the church’s finance committee was "asleep at the switch," and he was upset that the diocese didn’t help even though there were "red flags," the woman said.
"He said he couldn’t stand at the altar and look us in the face any more, knowing what was going on. Everyone stood up and applauded," she said. "He said he didn’t know what was going to happen to him."
After the morning Mass, word quickly spread that Bishop William Lori was on his way to meet with the parish council and finance committee. Dozens of parishioners gathered at the Post Road church to support Madden. They became unruly at times, telling Lori that Madden acted out of love and should not be punished for blowing the whistle on his boss.
"Thank God he did what he did," said Cyndy Ashburne, an upset parishioner who was there to greet the bishop. "I heard it was a parish council meeting, but I said, ‘I’ll be damned, I’m a parishioner. I put my money in the box. I’m going.’ "
Katrina O’Connor, a parishioner of six years, said she doubts the diocese would have investigated Fay’s spending if Madden hadn’t looked into it first.
"He took matters into his own hands, which is really brave, and we are grateful to him," she said.
Brian Fogarty, a former member of the parish youth group, carried a hand-drawn sign that read, "Out with Fay; Father Mike can stay."
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