May 24, 2006

'P.I.' PRIEST RESIGNS

STAMFORD (CT)
New York Post

By DAN MANGAN

May 24, 2006 -- A Connecticut church yesterday lost a pastor for the second time in a week after the newly appointed top priest confessed to hiring a private eye who uncovered financial wrongdoing by the former pastor.

"I made a huge mistake which has further complicated matters," said the Rev. Michael Madden in a letter to parishioners at St. John Catholic Church in Darien.

Madden apologized and resigned as acting administrator after meeting with a reportedly furious Bridgeport Diocese Bishop William Lori. By hiring a private eye on his own, without consulting his bishop, Madden breached the Catholic chain of command.

"I am deeply saddened that the situation in the parish has been worsened by today's events," Lori said.

Posted by kshaw at May 24, 2006 07:40 AM