Posted on 11/06/2012 2:42:50 AM PST by markomalley
A religious sister who served as pastoral associate at two parishes in western New York faces grand larceny charges after she allegedly stole $128,000 from the parishes.
Kevin Keenan, a spokesman for the Diocese of Buffalo, commented on the charges Nov. 5.
Its always disappointing when people in positions of trust apparently violate that trust, he told EWTN News. Parishioners are hard working people and they donated money to the parish with the expectation that that money would be put toward ministry and other parish operations.
Sister Mary Anne Rapp was scheduled to appear in Kendall Town Court on Nov. 5 to answer the charges. She had been pastoral associate at two linked parishes St. Marys Church in Holley, N.Y. and St. Marks Church in Kendall.
In September 2010, the parishes new pastor requested a new pastor audit, which began in November 2010 and lasted about four months.
Based on the findings of that audit, there were some discrepancies. There was some money missing, Keenan said. The findings of that audit were turned over to the Orleans County district attorney so that his staff could determine whether criminal charges were warranted.
Sr. Rapp was placed on administrative leave in February 2011. Her appointment was terminated two months later.
Sister Edith Wyss, the head of the Holy Name Province for the Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, said in a Nov. 5 statement that Sr. Rapp entered into a gambling addiction treatment program in Feb. 2011 when she was placed on leave.
"She spent 9½ months in an in-patient treatment program and has maintained her recovery in the year since. As sisters we continue to pray for Sister Mary Anne and help her deal with her addiction, which sadly is prevalent in our society," Sr. Wyss said.
Keenan said the diocese has implemented a series of procedures in the parish to make sure something like this doesnt happen again.
Maybe one thing to do is to remove all pants-suited feminists from being "pastoral associates".
Hussein doesn’t need the Constitution.
Sister Edith doesn’t need the Commandments.
"Read em' and weep beeeyatches!"
Maybe one thing to do is to remove all pants-suited feminists from being “pastoral associates”.
^^^
A comment that truly cries out for a Free Republic “LIKE” button.
&&&
From the piece:
As sisters we continue to pray for Sister Mary Anne and help her deal with her addiction, which sadly is prevalent in our society,” Sr. Wyss said.
))
Oh, so it’s not her fault then. /s
There is pressure to find roles for the few remaining sisters in parish life, as their schools close or they don’t want to teach in them (but still need to raise revenue for their orders, who receive their pay and dole out a stipend); “pastoral associates” I guess are the “American Catholic” version of priestesses.
I’m not talking about the growing conservative orders (with habits and faith), but the old “mainstream” ones (that dress as civilians, wear makeup/earrings, and engage in political activism instead of religious works).
“Hussein doesnt need the Constitution. Sister Edith doesnt need the Commandments.”
Apparently the parishes didn’t need the money, either.
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