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	Former Delray Beach Priest Testifies He Had Discretion to Spend Accountant Critical of Report Used by Prosecutors By Brian Haas South Florida Sun-Sentinel February 20, 2009 http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/sfl-022009-priesttrial,0,7576087.story WEST PALM BEACH - The Rev. Francis Guinan testified this afternoon that he could spend up to $50,000 of church money on whatever he wanted under his diocese's rules. Again and again, in fact. "It seems to me that you could spend up to $50,000 and you know, on a particular item, you cant go over $50,000," Guinan said. "But then on another item, you can go on... it's like a new $50,000." But prosecutors say Guinan, 66, stole the money from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach, spending it on girlfriends, trips and supporting a gambling habit. He faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the grand theft charge. Guinan took the stand after several of his colleagues testified on what discretion priests have to spend church money. His attorney, Richard Barlow, has argued that his client didn't steal but was given nearly limitless latitude by the Catholic Church to spend funds how he saw fit. Earlier today, a Jensen Beach priest told the jury that he would have discretion to take expensive vacations using church money if he chose to do so. "Would I spend that money?" said Rev. Thomas Rynne, pastor emeritus of St. Martin de Porres Church in Jensen Beach. "Yes I would, without hesitation." Rynne's testimony seemed to echo that notion. Rynne justified some spending on the stress of being a priest. "It's almost impossible for you people to understand the demands on a priest," he said. Rynne said he hadn't taken any expensive trips, nor has he repaid any personal credit cards with church money, as prosecutors accuse Guinan. When asked directly if he thought priests had enough discretion over church funds to take an expensive trip, he responded, "Oh, absolutely." Asked if the church had any rules restricting expenditures, he responded, "Absolutely not." Another line of defense attacked church accounting practices. An accountant said this afternoon that church records were so poor -- some of them admittedly bogus -- that there's no way to tell if a priest actually stole from the parish. Accountant Martin Cass was highly critical of an accounting report relied upon by prosecutors that they say showed Guinan stole nearly a half-million dollars from St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church. "His report is very speculative and really shouldn't or couldn't be use to determine however much money had been stolen," Cass said. "It's totally based on hypothetical or made up information."
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