DARIEN (CT)
Stamford Advocate
By Vesna Jaksic
Staff Writer
Published May 22 2006
DARIEN -- Bishop William Lori yesterday apologized to parishioners of St. John Roman Catholic Church for a scandal involving their priest and vowed that the Bridgeport Diocese will investigate the church's finances.
The Rev. Michael Jude Fay, pastor of the Post Road church since 1991, accepted Lori's request to resign Wednesday after the diocese discovered that he had stolen church money, officials said.
Lori and other diocesan officials said yesterday Deloitte & Touche has been hired to conduct a full forensic investigation of St. John's finances.
During a 10 a.m. Mass, Lori told the standing-room-only crowd that he wanted to be with them in their difficult time.
"It is precisely in these moments of tension, disappointment, anger and sadness that the quality and capacity of our love is tested," he said. "I'm deeply sorry this parish is going through such a severe test and came in person to apologize."
According to published reports, a Stamford private investigator, Vito Colucci Jr., documented that Fay used at least $200,000 of church money to pay for trips, dinners and limousine rides as part of a relationship with another man.