BishopAccountability.org
	Resignation Takes Parish by Surprise By Michael Dinan Hartford Courant [Greenwich CT] January 22, 2007 http://www.courant.com/news/local/fc/scn-gt-a1moynihanjan22,0,4577446.story?coll=hc-headlines-fc Parishioners at St. Michael Church say they're stunned that Diocese of Bridgeport officials asked the Rev. Michael Moynihan to resign last week after auditors turned up more than $500,0000 in unaccounted spending. Moynihan, 54, St. Michael's pastor for 14 years, may simply require more time to explain the spending, said Declan Maguire, 56, a Stamford resident who has belonged to St. Michael for a dozen years. "It's as if they've jumped to a conclusion without waiting for the evidence," Maguire said as dozens of teary and stern-faced parishioners began filing out after yesterday's 11 a.m. Mass. "I'm hearing a case for ousting someone based on very light evidence, in an investigation which is not complete." Peggy Martino of Cos Cob, a mother of four and church member for nine years who serves on the St. Michael Women's Association, said she's looking for greater accountability from Moynihan's superiors. "First of all, there's not enough information yet for what appears to be a rush to judgment," she said. "More information is needed. Having said that, the leaders of this Catholic church need to take more direct responsibility. And that should not automatically translate into casting aside an underling such as a parish priest, but rather the leaders need to take the personal responsibility for their role. If Father Moynihan's strength is not financial management, then why can't the Catholic church leaders recognize that and put alternatives in place, like support services?" According to diocese officials, the last summer's audit details an extensive record of financial mismanagement by Moynihan. The Bridgeport diocese, overseen by Bishop William Lori, includes 87 parishes in Fairfield County. Starting in 2002, each parish began undergoing an internal diocesan review, Lori told more than 300 St. Michael members during a 30-minute homily in which he detailed a "sad but necessary decision" to ask for Moynihan's resignation. St. Michael's number came up in 2004, and the review showed that basic accounting practices were lacking at the church, according to Lori, such as documenting expenses and preparing a budget. Moynihan assured Lori that things would improve, the bishop recalled. Then, starting last July, St. Michael underwent a second audit, this one led by a private accounting firm. Days into that audit, the U.S. Attorney's office informed the diocese that St. Michael was using an unreported, off-the-book bank account --Êa violation of diocesan rules, Lori said. The account was closed and as the private firm's audit immediately evolved into a full-fledged financial investigation, it became clear that Moynihan's personal finances were somehow intertwined with the parish's, Lori said. In August, as Moynihan tried to explain where about $529,000 had been spent, Lori took away the pastor's ability to write checks or otherwise spend more parish money. "As it happened, I hoped, I prayed that this nightmare, and it truly is a nightmare, might possibly have a happy ending," Lori said. "But that was not to be, because late in December --Êfive months into this process -- a second off-the-books account was discovered by the diocese, an account, I was assured by Father Michael, did not exist. This was the last thing I wanted to find out and it was a very sad discovery that led me to the conclusion that Father Michael was either unable, or unwilling, to lead the parish to a new day of financial transparency and accountability." During an interview, Lori said St. Michael members are having a difficult time processing the situation and that many are sharing their love for their former pastor. "If I may say, there's nothing I've said publicly that I haven't said first to Father Michael and the (St. Michael) parish council," Lori said. "Everything discussed publicly today has been discussed over six months. This has been a consistent discussion." Moynihan could not be reached for comment. In his resignation letter, Moynihan said the audit "will illustrate my deficiencies as a financial administrator." "I believe at the end of this process that there will be no findings of impropriety or wrongdoing on my part as your pastor," he said in the letter. "If the final report should indicate unresolved or questionable expenditures, I will, to the extent that I can, make an appropriate financial contribution back to the parish I love so much." It isn't clear when the investigation will wrap up, especially since the transaction details of the second off-the-books account are still forthcoming, said Norman Walker, the diocese's chief financial officer. "Getting details of that has proven to be difficult," Walker said. Moynihan will remain a "functioning priest," Lori said "At a date ahead I'll be speaking with him about options for a new priestly assignment. At the same time, after a long and very thorough process, I have reluctantly but firmly concluded that any assignment will not entail financial administration." Moynihan's potential re-assignment does little to comfort Raymond Zrike Jr., 55, a Franklin Lakes, N.J., resident who grew up in Greenwich and was married by Moynihan in Texas seven years ago. "I think everybody is very shocked at the insinuation of any wrongdoing," Zrike said. "Our prayers are with him. He's a wonderful man, a very strong pastor. My hope is that he's not stealing or breaking the law, the church law or other laws. It's all very sad, and it's made me very angry."
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