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	Removal of Local Priest Stuns Parish By Luke Moretti WIVB August 28, 2009 http://www.wivb.com/dpp/news/local/Removal_of_local_priest_stuns_parish_20090827 [with video] BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB_ - Why did the Buffalo Catholic Diocese remove a priest and a business manager from a local parish? News 4 Investigative Reporter Luke Moretti discovers the moves comes after the two men expressed concerns about the parish's finances. "They said that I was being terminated as of that point, as was Msgr. Vorhees," said Marc Pasquale who was removed as Business Manager from St. Teresa. Donna Benzin attends St. Teresa and is stunned. "Stunned out of my mind. Just literally stunned. Because, I mean, Father Fred, I thought was great," said Benzin. Mary Stachowski, an active member of the church, says she was shocked that Msgr. Vorhees was moved out of the church. "He was happy here. We were all happy. Everything was going beautifully. Smoothly," she said. Pasquale says he wasn't given a reason for his removal. But he says it happened shortly after he contacted the Erie County District Attorney's Office regarding questionable financial practices. Questions, he says, that involve missing invoices, unexplained credit card charges and shredded documents. "Some people may not like the fact that I ask questions that might not be too pleasant, but I'm sorry, I will noo back down on any of those issues," said Pasquale. Pasquale says the diocese ignored his and Msrg. Vorhees concerns and took no action when he contacted official about the parish's finances. Pasquale said, "This is not money that belongs to the diocese. This money belongs to the people of St. Teresa, and this is their money. I'm a parishioner of St. Teresa, and it's my money, and I want to know where this money is being spent." The parish's new temporary administrator, Msgr. Jerry Sullivan, told church members that Msrg. Vorhees' departure is not a reflection on his service at the parish and that he's been a dedicated servant and did everything that was asked of him. Mark Pasquale says he will likely challenge his removal through legal means.
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