By Tim Malloy
WPTV
October 14, 2009
http://www.wptv.com/content/news/centralpbc/westpalmbeach/story/St-Vincent-Ferrer/IaYn34pv7U-OEbrVjGcLgA.cspx
[with video]
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DELRAY BEACH, FL-- Trouble is brewing again at the once scandal-plagued St. Vincent Ferrer Church in Delray Beach.
A top personal injury attorney is poised to sue the pastor who took over the wealthy parish. The suit will be filed Thursday.
It has to do with alleged retribution against the kids of parents who raised questions about church finances.
Fr. John Skehan and the priest who succeed him, Fr. Francis Guinan, were accused of stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars, essentially from the collection plate.
Both faced trial and conviction...a humiliating end to long and fruitful careers.
Some headlines breathlessly described the their take as more than 8 million dollars.
To many parishioners it never made sense.
Now enter high-powered personal injury attorney Jack Scarola who is suing three individuals at St Vincent’s; the pastor, Fr Thomas Skindeleski, the school principal, and the school administrator in connection with the expulsion of two children from the school..
Scarola reportedly was contacted by Paul Moreska a member of the church who questioned why ,in light of all the money in the church accounts, and given the bad turn in the economy, couldn't tuitions be reduced.
When Moreska pressed Father Skindeleski, he says, his family was socially ostracized and his two kids thrown out of St Vincent Ferrer School.
Many supporters of Skehan and Guinan believe much of the money allegedly stolen by the priests was in fact safely building interest in accounts set up long ago...money the diocese was aware of.
Moreska and others believe the money that remained was poorly handled.
The suit will charge a 'breach of fiduciary duty' on the part of Fr. Thomas Skindeleski...as well as breach of contract and emotional distress.
The Diocese itself is not being targeted.
Supporters of the lawsuit say the broader question is the church’s lack of transparency.
Some supporters of Skehan and Guinan have said all along that the money said to have been stolen has always been there and the diocese let the priests, who were guilty of no more than occasional reckless spending, take the fall.
Fr. Skindeleski did not return a call for comment.
Wednesday afternoon the Diocese of Palm Beach released this statement:
“The Diocese has been made aware of the lawsuit filed on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Maresca who several months ago expressed dissatisfaction with the tuition rates set forth at St .Vincent Ferrer Parish school for the current school year. Regretfully, the Marescas have chosen a legal forum to litigate their disputes with St. Vincent Ferrer Parish school in challenge of its tuition policies. The Diocese is dismayed that the Marescas, in dispute of tuition policies, would take to legal action naming individuals in parish and school leadership in a lawsuit for monetary damages. The tuition rates and spending policies of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish school are closely monitored by the parish Finance Council as well as by the pastor, Fr. Thomas Skindeleski, and the school principal Vikki Delgado. In addition, the school’s Home and School Association and the School Advisory Board also reviews and is kept advised of the school’s financial status on a regular basis. (For further information on financial policies, please see the attached PDF file regarding Diocesan Entity Audit Program, a policy set forth by Bishop Barbarito in 2004). There will be no further comment at this time pending the outcome of the case.”
Email: tmalloy@wptv.com
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