BishopAccountability.org
	Mount Prospect Priest Indicted on Theft Charge By Joseph Ryan Daily Herald August 11, 2008 http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=227005 Following theft charges tied to an earlier Chicago assignment, officials at St. Emily Catholic Church say Rev. Steven Patte had no access to parish money while serving at the Mount Prospect church. "While here, he had no independent or private access to parish finances or financial transactions, and the investigation is not related to his work at St. Emily," reads a statement on the parish's Web site. "We offer our prayer as he faces these charges." Patte, 64, was indicted Friday in Cook County court on a host of theft charges that accuse him of stealing more than $10,000 from St. Ita Parish on Chicago's North Side while he worked there in 2004 and 2005. Patte pleaded not guilty before Cook County Circuit Judge William Lacy Friday. His next court date is Aug. 21. Patte faces two felony counts of continuing a financial crimes enterprise, two counts of theft, three counts of money laundering and one count of fraud, said Andy Conklin, a spokesman for the Cook County State's Attorney's office. Patte was reassigned from St. Ita to St. Emily in March of 2006. He left St. Emily in June for reasons unrelated to the theft charges, said Susan Burritt, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Chicago. She said Patte is now living in a private residence. Burritt said the archdiocese is cooperating in the investigation. "The archdiocese is committed to act responsibly ... to demonstrate that any misappropriation of resources will not be tolerated," Burritt said. A spokesperson for St. Emily couldn't be reached for comment Monday.
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