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	Priest Who Stole from Parish Assigned to Another Beatrice Daily Sun October 2, 2007 http://www.beatricedailysun.com/articles/2007/10/02/ap-state-ne/d8s16io00.txt OMAHA, Neb. - Catholic officials say they're not worried about putting a priest back to church work while he remains on probation for stealing $125,000 from his last Omaha parish. On Feb. 16 the Rev. Stephen Gutgsell admitted in court that he'd stolen the money from St. Patrick Catholic Church, which he had been serving as pastor since 2001. Officials from the archdiocese had reported the theft to police after conducting an audit. Gutgsell pleaded guilty to felony theft by deception and in April was given five years' probation and told to pay back $40,000 _ the amount the judge calculated Gutgsell could amass over his probation. Gutgsell's lawyer said Tuesday that, thanks in large part to donations from the priest's friends, family and former parishioners, he had paid $13,582 toward the restitution. And, said attorney James Schaefer, he believed Gutgsell also had sent in money. Gutgsell had told authorities that he was a compulsive spender and needed help. Schaefer said Gutgsell has since gotten that help through a residential program at the Southdown Institute in Aurora, Ontario, Canada. The Rev. Joseph Taphorn, chancellor of the Omaha Archdiocese, said Gutgsell "has learned the skills that he needs to make sure that this (the theft) doesn't happen again." Gutgsell is to begin work Thursday as associate pastor at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and will live in the rectory. A letter from the parish administrator, the Rev. Craig Loecker, said Loecker will retain responsibility for parish business and financial matters. Taphorn said Gutgsell won't have access to Blessed Sacrament finances. Gutgsell, who grew up in the parish, said in a statement released by the archdiocese: "I look forward to working with Father Craig Loecker to serve the sacramental and spiritual needs of the parish community." Gutgsell did not immediately respond to an interview request made through his lawyer, Schaefer, on Tuesday. Blessed Sacrament lost its longtime pastor, Monsignor Edgar Wortmann, on Aug. 31. He died after collapsing while presiding over a funeral. The 85-year-old Wortmann was the oldest active priest in the archdiocese and had been pastor at Blessed Sacrament since 1972. Blessed Sacrament's business manager, Sue Moser, Gutgsell can be a good role model for students at the parish school. "Father Gutgsell admitted his wrongdoing and sought forgiveness, and that's what we teach kids," she said.
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