By Kevin Cole
World-Herald [Omaha NE]
February 4, 2007
http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=2325107
Any signs that the Rev. Stephen J. Gutgsell was improperly spending funds belonging to St. Patrick Church of Omaha were impossible for the parish council president to spot.
"There were no expensive watches or rings or an expensive car that I'm aware of," said Bruce Bianchetta, the council president. "He never showed any signs of extravagance."
Officials of the Omaha Catholic Archdiocese have accused Gutgsell, 48, of embezzling more than $100,000 from the church at 1412 Castelar St.
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| The Rev. Stephen J. Gutgsell resigned from St. Patrick parish after being accused of theft. Photo by JEFFREY Z. CARNEY/THE WORLD-HERALD |
The archdiocese contacted the Omaha Police Department, and Gutgsell resigned as pastor.
Bianchetta said he was told by the Rev. Joe Taphorn, chancellor of the archdiocese, that Gutgsell had spoken to police Thursday. Gutgsell could not be reached for comment Saturday.
Gutgsell typically took one vacation trip a year, Bianchetta said.
"The trip wouldn't be ostentatious by any means," he said. "He would go to typical places around the Midwest, usually someplace like the Black Hills."
Bianchetta said he talked with other members of the parish council during a meeting Saturday and that none of them reported anything strange about Gutgsell's spending habits.
He declined to identify the person who noticed irregularities in the parish bookkeeping.
"This person did simple math, ran the numbers, and they didn't add up," Bianchetta said.
The Rev. James M. Buckley, associate pastor at Holy Cross Church, has been transferred to St. Patrick as parish administrator.
"We have a solid parish with a good foundation," Bianchetta said. "We'll bounce back all right."
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