cwnewz - Two priests in Florida are accused of stealing over millions of dollars from the offering plates at church.
Rev John Skehan is 81 years old and is originally from Johnstown, Co Kilkenny. He pleaded guilty just hours before the start of his trial to taking money from his church over the course of several years in what authorities say could be the one of the biggest embezzlement scandals to hit the American Catholic Church.
Rev. Skehan faces charges with fellow priest, the Rev Francis Guinan, originally from Birr, Co Offaly, who has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors say these two reverends took cash from the offering plate at St Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church, in West Palm Beach, and stashed it in the church ceiling and in offshore bank accounts.
The money was then spent on expensive homes, gambling trips to Las Vegas with a mistress, even a $275,000 (£200,000) rare coin collection, authorities say.
Both are charged with stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, although church auditors believe the total amount taken could be in the millions.
Police reports say Skehan used $134,075 to pay for his alleged lover's expenses, gave $11,688 to relatives and another $268,630 was used for personal expenses such as dental work and credit card payments.
Authorities said Mr Guinan had had an "intimate relationship" with a former bookkeeper at a church where he previously worked. It is said that he used church money to pay her credit card bills and her child's school fees. They also said she accompanied him on holidays.
Previously Rev. Skehan had pleaded not guilty but on Wednesday he changed his plea.
"Father Skehan accepted responsibility for his actions by virtue of his guilty plea," Scott Richardson, his lawyer, said outside the court. "It's been extraordinarily difficult for him from the beginning."
The scandal broke in 2006, stunning parishioners at the seaside parish.
Rev. Skehan, who had been at the church for 40 years, is accused of taking $370,000 between 2001 and 2006, the timeframe covered by the statute of limitations. Auditors think in over 20 years he actually stole more than $8 million.
Rev. Guigan, 66, is accused of stealing $488,000 during the 19 months after he became pastor in Sept 2003. On Feb 18 he is due to stand trial.
On March 20, Rev. Skehan will be sentenced. Both reverends face up to 30 years in jail if convicted.
Rev. Guinan begged the church to stop the audit and "call off the dogs" after the investigation had began. In a letter released by prosecutors, he said that priests "devote their lives to the church with little thought for personal gain".
Richard Barlow, Rev. Guinan's lawyer, said his client had done nothing wrong and that his co-defendant's plea did not affect his case. He said he would prove Rev. Guinan spent the money on church business.
Christian Web News - Jesus has a way of getting right to the point, doesn't He? There was certainly no mincing of words, He came right out and said, "why are you fearful?" and then went on to say, "O you of little faith." You don't have to read between the lines to see what He was saying, they had little faith.
Christian Web News - Galatians 3:13-14. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree''), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
