03/16/08 - Can Greenwich Donors Trust This Catholic School And Bishop Lori? Will they continue to give thier hard earned dollars to this School?

Greenwich Blog Post

- Crime & Religion

Auditors Document Greenwich (CT) Priest Stole $529K From Parish

By Frank Douglas

A summary of the scathing reports and a letter from Bishop William Lori were sent last Friday to parishioners and parents of students attending the high-tuition Greenwich Catholic School. Until he was removed by the Bishop, ...

...“The reports show that his personal bank activity does not support his claims that he made any of the approximately $93,000 in payments from his personal funds.

“Father Moynihan claimed that one source of his personal funds was gifts from a trust fund for an elderly sick aunt and uncle (recently deceased) for which he served as trustee.

“To corroborate Moynihan’s claim regarding gifts from the trust, family members associated with the trust challenged Moynihan’s administration of the trust fund. They challenged his propriety in using $58,000 in trust funds to purchase a powerboat and other payments from the trust solely for Moynihan’s benefit.

“Furthermore, Moynihan has refused to provide beneficiaries of the trust with an accounting of trust assets.”

Voice from the Desert - http://reform-network.net

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Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

- First Amedment Of The United States Constatution

03/11/08 - More On The Greenwich Church That Can't Find $400,000 From Don't Tell The Donor .org

Don't Tell the Donor.org

An anonymous source of news and opinions from the world of nonprofit fundraising... whether it's ripped from the headlines or gossip from development offices... these are the stories you might not want to tell the donor.

The New Haven Register is reporting that church officials have concluded their investigation into a Greenwich priest who failed to account for more than $400,000 in church funds he kept in secret accounts.

The newspaper says that the report offers few details on how Moynihan might have spent church money, but it does cite $58,000 used to buy a boat as well as restaurant, travel expenses and a livery service. The article goes on to say:

Moynihan was stripped of his priestly authority after the Bridgeport Diocese learned last month that he shared a Manhattan apartment with another man. Moynihan failed to end that association despite promises to do so, and engaged in “obfuscation” when questioned about church money, Bishop William E. Lori wrote in a letter Thursday to parishioners.

It seems crazy to me the diocese was more concerned with the priest's co-habitation with another man that they were with their terrible internal controls. Then again, it appears that the church never would have found out about the secret accounts unless the F.B.I. tipped them off to the banking deceptions.

Bridgeport diocese officials say they have made “great strides” in implementing a new system of financial procedures and controls in all 87 parishes in Fairfield County. Those steps have become a model for other dioceses, Lori said in a telephone interview Friday.

“I think people can have a great deal of confidence that the donations to the parishes are used well and wisely for the mission of the parish,” Lori said.

Hat tip to Mike Burns (again) at Nonprofit Board Crisis for blogging this story.


EVEN MORE FROM:

Clerical Whispers

Fides - Libertas - Veritas

Priest failed to account for parish money, investigators say

by Sotto Voce

.....Moynihan tried to support one claim by submitting a document purportedly signed by a former judge who served on a scholarship committee.

But the judge denied that the signature was his or that he had ever seen the document or authorized anyone to sign it on his behalf, according to the report.

Moynihan also lied about the existence of the secret accounts and falsely claimed he reimbursed himself for a $1,000 scholarship to a child, according to auditors.....

Clerical Whispers - http://clericalwhispers.blogspot.com/

03/07/08 - Greenwich News Wire

Greenwich News Report

Priest failed to account for parish money, investigators say
Newsday - Long Island,NY,USA

Church officials say an investigation has found that a Greenwich priest failed to account for more than $400000 in church funds he kept in secret accounts. ...

Inquiry Implicates Priest
Hartford Courant - United States

By JOHN CHRISTOFFERSEN

AP

Writer March 8, 2008 NEW HAVEN — - A Greenwich priest failed to account for more than $400000 in church funds he kept in secret accounts...

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03/07/08 - Greenwich Newswire For Friday

Greenwich News Reports From
The Greenwich Post

Smith hearing continues in Greenwich Probate Court (Updated)

Judge David W. Hopper will continue to hear arguments in Greenwich Probate Court regarding the $1-million settlement reached between Jennifer Hagel Smith and Royal Caribbean cruise lines.

Ms. Hagel Smith and the cruise line reached the agreement after Ms. Hagel Smith's husband, George A. Smith IV, a 26-year-old Greenwich man, went missing on their honeymoon cruise. Mr. Smith’s parents, George III and Maureen, are challenging the out-of-court settlement so they can file a wrongful death lawsuit against Royal Caribbean on behalf of their son. George Smith IV disappeared into the Aegean sea after commotion was heard in his cabin. Bloodstains were found in his room and on the metal overhang below his balcony.

The FBI is still actively investigating the highly publicized case.

The hearing is taking place behind closed doors because lawyers on both sides requested confidentiality. Judge Hopper granted the request to protect information in case a lawsuit is eventually filed against Royal Caribbean.

Ms. Hagel Smith is the administrator of the estate, but the Smith family has said her settlement was reached without their knowledge.


Voice of the Faithful to meet tomorrow Group to discuss scandal in the Catholic Church
Voice of the Faithful will hold a meeting tomorrow to provide an update on the on-going Catholic clergy sexual abuse scandals and their consequences.
At Home to hold neighborhood event

In order for the growing number of At Home in Greenwich members in each neighborhood to get better acquainted, and explore their shared interests, a series of “zip code potluck” events have been planned.