BishopAccountability.org
	Priest Jailed over Church Theft Priest Is Accused of Using Thousands in Church Funds for Trips, Computers, Other Luxuries By Rummana Hussain Chicago Sun-Times August 21, 2008 http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/1120110,priest082108.article Bail was set at $25,000 today for a Roman Catholic priest who prosecutors say swiped thousands of dollars from his former Edgewater parish to pay for his vacations, massages and other luxury items. Rev. Steven Patte, 64, is charged with theft, money laundering and wire fraud. Prosecutors said he issued checks and and wired money to his personal accounts as reimbursement for expenditures that never occurred while he was St. Ita's Parish between July 2001 and August 2005. He then used the money, splurging on trips to California, laptops, computer accessories, massages and personal training sessions, according to his indictment. During that period, Patte dissolved the church's finance committee, which had overseen the expenditures, prosecutors said. After Patte left the church in March 2006, when he was reassigned by the Archdiocese of Chicago, a financial review found the parish's surplus was depleted and that the church had incurred debts of $400,000. After noticing Patte's alleged transactions for his personal use, church members then contacted the Cook County State's Attorney's Office. Patte served as an associate pastor at St. Emily's Parish in Mount Prospect between March 2006 and this July, according to Susan Burritt, an archdiocese spokeswoman. Burritt said Patte stepped down last month for "personal reasons" and is living in a private residence. If convicted, Patte would face a maximum of 15 years in prison.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.