Posted on 01/15/2012 1:03:23 PM PST by Cincinatus' Wife
For years, Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe lived something of a double life.
He was widely admired by his flock at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, which he helped build into one of the largest Roman Catholic parishes in the Las Vegas area. But at the same time, he was stealing money from the church.
He stole from the gift shop. He stole from the votive candle collection. He stole from a fund for novenas, or Masses in honor of the dead. Over nearly a decade, he pocketed about $650,000.
His motive was all too familiar in slot-machine-heavy Nevada. McAuliffe was a gambling addict.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge James C. Mahan sentenced the priest, who pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the thefts, to more than three years in prison and ordered him to pay restitution. In doing so, the judge waved off the defense's request to give McAuliffe probation.
McAuliffe’s attorney, Margaret Stanish, asked the court to consider his lifelong devotion to the Catholic Church, which started with helping nuns when he was a schoolboy. McAuliffe has also been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder and depression, she said, but in recent months had “excelled” in gambling addiction treatment.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
I thought they got sent to Craggy Island.
He must be a progressive OWS.
Mr. Torquemada, please report to work immediately.
“Thou shalt not steal”, prison should be nothing for him, according to his own professed belief his real punishment will be eternal.
Oh right, a contrite last minute “confession” wipes the slate clean, how convenient! /S
McAuliffe never sought treatment for his betting problem, prosecutors said, though he could have through the church or private counselors. He also left his own savings untouched as he burned through the church's money.
I don't care what the religion is, church 'leaders' that steal from the money church members give to the church in the reasonable assumption that it will be used for church-related purposes deserve no excuses or special treatment. This Monsignor stole well over a half-million dollars from his church so he could gamble it away. Sorry, but I'm not sympathetic to his lawyer's claims of rehabilitation and so on. They all say that when they're caught. He got off relatively easy.
So once saved, isn’t always saved?
Nice. A Poster Boy for Bad Priests.
Glad we are rid of him!
Suppose it depends on how you view “Mortal Sins” and ripping of the church.
Even murderers can claim redemption at the last minute, kind of makes the whole “Do not sin, or else” thing rather impotent if you ask me.
That would be an ecumenical matter!
The money was just “resting” in his bank account.
Where were the Parish Council and the Trustees?
You don’t say.
Where does that say that we cannot repent of those sins and be forgiven?
The thief on the cross would probably see it differently.
None of us are worthy of salvation, of God’s great love for us, and yet he still loves us anyways.
your attempt at humor and your lack of knowledge concerning Catholicism is both apparent and pathetic.. Christ does not condemn people to hell for stealing a few dollars and the person need not make a last minute confession to be forgiven his sins. While Catholics follow the bible and seek to have their sins forgiven through the Sacrament of reconciliation, and protestants figure they can do as they please because all sins were forgiven through the death of Christ, Catholics need not wait until the moment of death to be reconciled with Christ. Most Catholics, recalling the phrase "whose sins you shall forgive they are forgiven, and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained" make frequent and sincere confessions. They are required however, to make restitution (if possible) and to demonstrate true contrition for the sin. We realize, of course, that Christ did indeed die so that sin may be forgiven. However, Catholics believe that we still have some personal responsibility to atone for our sins and strive to eliminate further sins from our lives.
give me an old school priest anyday of the week.....
Thin skin?
And BTW, let me formally renounce my “Baptism” right here and now.
It was imposed on me, I wasn’t or given a choice any more than a Muslim is given an honest choice, and it did not stick. LOL!
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