By Mark Mueller
The Star-Ledger
June 29, 2009
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/06/paterson_diocese_requests_morr.html
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| The Reverend Patrick Brown, the Catholic chaplain for the Morris County Jail, counsels an inmate. Photo by Jim Pathe/The Star-Ledger |
STIRLING -- A lawyer for the Diocese of Paterson has recommended that a Morris County priest be returned to active ministry even as the FBI continues to investigate how the clergyman spent parish funds.
Monsignor Patrick Brown, the longtime pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Stirling, was placed on leave June 4, a day after two FBI agents arrived at the diocese with questions about Brown's spending practices. The FBI also has subpoenaed records from the church's banks and from a Morristown jewelry store where Brown, 58, frequently bought gifts for parish volunteers.
Today, diocese lawyer Kenneth Mullaney said that because Brown had not been charged, he ought to be reinstated as pastor. The diocese would continue to oversee the parish's finances while the investigation plays out, Mullaney said.
"We got the impression from these two agents that an arrest was imminent. Now here we are three-and-a-half weeks downstream, and we know that's not the case," said Mullaney, who handles all legal matters for the diocese. "I don't think it's fair for Monsignor Brown to be kept waiting in the breeze, so to speak. I just think it's flat-out not fair."
A final decision will rest with Paterson Bishop Arthur Serratelli. Last week, Mullaney said Brown had been scheduled to meet with Serratelli today to discuss resuming his duties.
The bishop, however, is on a pilgrimage in Greece and is not expected back until later this week, Mullaney said today. He said a meeting -- and a decision -- could come soon after the bishop's return.
In the interim, Mullaney made the recommendation to Monsignor James Mahoney, the diocese's vicar general, or second in command. Mullaney said he believes Brown, while perhaps guilty of sloppy book-keeping, has done nothing illegal.
The lawyer has said Mullaney regularly helped parishioners in financial trouble. In some cases, Mullaney said, Brown used church funds to help people make tuition and mortgage payments. In addition, Mullaney said, the FBI agents asked about donations to less wealthy parishes.
Brown's personal lawyer, Michael Critchley, did not return a call for comment today.
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