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	Diocese Reinstates Long Hill Pastor Amid Reported FBI Probe By Abbott Koloff Daily Record June 30, 2009 http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20090630/UPDATES01/90630033 Monsignor Patrick Brown was reinstated Tuesday as pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Long Hill while the FBI continues an investigation into parish finances, Paterson Diocese officials said. Ken Mullaney, an attorney for the diocese, said the decision was made because the FBI investigation has been dragging on longer than expected and diocese finance officials have not found any problems with parish finances. “It seems unfair to have Monsignor Brown in limbo while this investigation continues,” Mullaney said. “We have not seen any evidence of wrongdoing.” Mullaney also said the FBI asked him about expenditures made by Brown that include paying mortgages and college tuition for people, and giving money to some of the diocese’s poorer parishes. “I told them that a pastor is vested with considerable discretion with respect to the use of parish funds,” Mullaney said. “I know he has paid people’s mortgages and tuition for college, for people who were down and out, and given money to the poorer parishes of the Diocese of Paterson. That was what they were looking at. I told them I have no problem with it. There’s nothing criminal about it.” Brown, 58, who also serves as the Morris County jail chaplain, was placed on administrative leave on June 4, one day after FBI agents approached church officials about the investigation. Diocese officials took over the parish finances at that time and will continue to oversee the books during the investigation, Mullaney said. Mullaney said FBI agents have indicated that they plan to issue a subpoena to look at parish finances, and have already have issued subpoenas to a jewelry store to examine purchases made by Brown and to banks. FBI agents originally indicated that the investigation would be completed in a shorter period of time, Mullaney said. Mullaney said that the FBI was examining presents of jewelry and Christmas ornaments made by Brown to teachers at the parish school and other church workers. Mullaney described them as tokens of appreciation and said he told the FBI he received a Christmas ornament from Brown as a thanks for all he had done for the parish. Mullaney said he recommended reinstating Brown and that Bishop Arthur Serratelli, who returned Tuesday from a trip to Greece, agreed. FBI officials said through a spokeswoman that because the investigation is ongoing, they can’t comment on it. Brown and his attorneys were not immediately available for comment.
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