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	Catholic Pastor in Burlington Resigns Amid Financial Questions By Betty Ann Blaine Milwaukee Journal Sentinel August 17, 2009 http://www.jsonline.com/features/religion/53478502.html The pastor of a Burlington Catholic church has resigned over financial improprieties, and the Racine County district attorney's office will determine whether criminal charges are warranted, the Milwaukee Archdiocese said Monday. Father Jeff Thielen resigned Wednesday from Immaculate Conception Catholic Church after auditors determined about $75,000 in church funds was poorly accounted for. Two church trustees and its business manager also resigned, but they are not suspected of any wrongdoing, archdiocese spokeswoman Julie Wolf said. "There doesn't appear to be any concern about them, other than their being overly respectful of the pastor," she said. "These people are supposed to be in place to provide checks and balances, but sometimes volunteers and staff look to the pastors" for direction. The nature of the mismanagement was not clear. Wolf said Thielen appeared to have overcompensated himself, which raised tax issues; purchased gift cards as thank-yous for staff and volunteers; and failed to follow the archdiocese's internal controls for financial management. Bishop William P. Callahan, interim administrator for the Milwaukee Archdiocese, announced Thielen's resignation to parishioners over the weekend. Callahan will serve as temporary administrator for Immaculate Conception until a permanent pastor is appointed. That could be awhile. Only the archbishop can make a permanent appointment, and it's unclear when the Vatican will name a new archbishop to succeed Timothy M. Dolan, who left this year to lead the Archdiocese of New York. Thielen came to Immaculate Conception in 2004 from St. Lucy Catholic Church in Racine. Thielen's reassignment has not been determined. He remains a priest.
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