03/14/08 - Greenwich Newswire - Greenwich News Reports From The Greenwich Citizen

First Selectman Peter Tesei strolls down Greenwich Avenue with his 11-month-old daughter, Caroline, in the town s 34th annual St. Patrick s parade last Sunday.

GREENWICH CITIZEN photo

Amy Mortensen

St. Patrick's Parade Purrrrfect

From all angles, the St. Patrick's Day Parade down sunny Greenwich Avenue Sunday afternoon was purrrrrfect.

Auditors Document Moynihan Stole $529K From Parish

A web of deceit self-woven over years by the Rev. Michael Moynihan, ex-pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Church on North Street, was broken last Friday when auditing reports showed that the priest cannot account for $529,000 in disbursements.

Bringing Clergy Abuse Out of the Darkness

Those gathered in the auditorium of Greenwich's Christ Church Saturday listened attentively as John Marshall Lee, chairman of Voice of the Faithful's Diocese of Bridgeport chapter, addressed a topic that is current and weighty.

SPORTS:

GHS State Case, Claims LL Swim Crown

MIDDLETOWN - Greenwich High's boys swim Coach Terry Lowe has looked across the pool at the Class LL championships and seen Fairfield Prep Coach Bruce Jaffe, his most consistent rival, on the other side for about the last 40 years.

Greenwich Watches New Canaan Skate Away with Title

New Canaan Ices GHS State Championship Hopes

Rosenband Lights it Up, But Cards Fall

OPINION:

Cell Phone Rudeness: A New Wrinkle

Does the name Martin Cooper mean anything to you? Perhaps not. Cooper is considered the inventor of the first portable handset - cell phone, in today's parlance - and the first person to make a call on a portable hand phone.

Past, Present and Future Trailblazers

===========================================

Please send comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

Of what use is freedom of speech to those who fear to offend?
- Roger Ebert

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/

03/03/08 - News Reports From The Greenwich Time

Bishop Lori discusses the results of the Diocese of Bridgeport’s investigation and audit of Father Michael Moynihan’s finances.
(Keelin Daly/Staff photo)

Moynihan misused funds
The Rev. Michael Moynihan diverted more than $400,000 in parish funds toward paying his credit card bills and other personal reimbursements and may have engaged in forgery and other forms of deception, according to findings of an investigation made public yesterday.

Committee discusses relocation options for Glenville students
Remediation of a mold-plagued temporary building to make it ready for Glenville School by the fall, redistricting all schools, and dispersing Glenville students to multiple schools were among some of the relocation options discussed during a Board of Education committee meeting yesterday.

Weather expected to clear in time for St. Patrick's Day parade
Meredith Blake

Judge asked to dismiss police lawsuit
The town has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit by eight minority police officers who sued the town for racial discrimination two years ago, arguing their perceptions of pervasive racism at the Greenwich Police Department are baseless.

Town prepares in case storm causes flooding
With heavy rains and strong winds expected to hit Greenwich this weekend, town officials are warning residents to be ready for flooded homes, property damage and power outages.

Man gets 18 years in burglary spree
The judge read quote after quote from victims to make sure Randall Weis understood the damage he caused in a series of nearly two dozen break-ins in which he and an accomplice destroyed at least $200,000 worth of property.

Lawmakers push for state energy department
A group of lawmakers, including Rep. Terry Backer, D-Stratford, yesterday called for the creation of a new Department of Clean Energy to help the state reduce its dependence on oil.

School air-quality report finalized
After seven months, 30 meetings and more than $252,000 spent to improve air quality at King's Highway Elementary School, a special committee came close to closing the book at a Town Hall meeting last night.

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...

---

Please send comments to GreenwichRoundup@gmail.com

02/17/08 - Only In Greenwich

Gay Sex Is Worse Than Embezzling Money

A year ago the Rev. Michael Moynihan was left a priest in "good standing" and moved to another post amidst allegations that he stole money from St. Michael's Church.

But he was immediately defrocked last week when the New York Post reported that Rev. Moynihan shared a ten year relationship and a New York City apartment with St, Michael's ex-choir director.