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	Catholic Priest at Downtown Dallas Chapel Put on Leave Amid Investigation into Use of Donations By Sam Hodges Dallas Morning News January 20, 2011 http://www.dallasnews.com/news/religion/20110120-catholic-priest-at-downtown-dallas-chapel-is-on-leave-use-of-donations-investigated.ece The Catholic priest who leads St. Jude Chapel in downtown Dallas is on leave pending an investigation into allegations that he took donations intended for the chapel. A temporary restraining order against the Rev. John Alphonso was issued last month in state district court, prohibiting him and two relatives from use of bank accounts. The priest “hasn’t taken anything that didn’t belong to him,” said his attorney, Joseph Ashmore. “We’re making all the accounts available. We agreed to the temporary injunction because we’ve got nothing to hide,” Ashmore added. Alphonso has been a priest for more than 40 years, and has worked in the Diocese of Dallas since 1982. He has led St. Jude Chapel, a small, spiritual refuge on Main Street, since 2006. The court petition lists St. Jude Chapel as the plaintiff, but the Diocese of Dallas is cooperating in an investigation, said diocesan spokeswoman Annette Gonzales Taylor. She released a statement from Bishop Kevin Farrell saying, “The Diocese of Dallas is committed to sound financial practices. I take very seriously the administration of the dollars donated by the good people in our parishes, chapels and schools and this matter would not have been pursued if it was not believed such actions were warranted based on the information at hand.” Ashmore said he has yet to learn where the complaint originated. “We think the bishop is acting on misinformation or false information,” said the lawyer, a former probate judge. The petition claims Alphonso issued directives for certain chapel funds “not to be counted” and diverted them to accounts in his name and that of the Diocese of Ahmedabad, Inc. The petition further claims that the priest used that nonprofit, which is registered in Texas, to benefit himself and a niece and a nephew. Alphonso is a native of India, and was ordained by the Diocese of Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad is a city in that country. Ashmore said Alphonso has long visited parishes in the Dallas diocese to solicit funds for Catholic causes in India, and has the nonprofit for that purpose. The priest also gets gifts from people who attend St. Jude. “I have made contributions to him to do with it as he sees fit,” said Ashmore, a longtime attendee at Masses there. “He should be able to do what he wants with his own money.” St. Jude Chapel is a part of the Diocese of Dallas, but is not a traditional parish, serving mostly business workers and tourists.
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