By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal
February 12, 2011
http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/116044839.html
Father Sam's conviction makes church rethink his planned assignment
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| Father Sam Ciccolini will remain in residence at Immaculate Conception of Mary's rectory in Akron's Kenmore neighborhood, until diocesan officials can determine an assignment. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal) |
The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland has hit a barrier in the reassignment of the Rev. Samuel R. Ciccolini.
Ciccolini, better known as Father Sam, was sent correspondence this week informing him that, effective March 1, he would become chaplain at two Cleveland-area facilities that serve troubled and developmentally disabled children and youth, and move his residency to a parish in west Cleveland. On Friday, diocesan officials found themselves in a conundrum because of his felony conviction.
''The Diocese had anticipated assigning Fr. Ciccolini to the chaplaincy at two Catholic Charity institutions, Parmadale and Rose-Mary Center, however, upon further consideration, it was determined the assignment would not be appropriate. At this time, Father Ciccolini and the Diocesan officials are in conversation regarding an official assignment,'' said a prepared statement from the diocese.
In October, Ciccolini, 68, was convicted of federal banking and income tax fraud. The felony conviction prohibits him from employment at facilities that receive public money. Both of the Catholic Charity institutions receive taxpayer funding.
Instead of going to work at the two facilities, Ciccolini will remain in residence at Immaculate Conception of Mary's rectory in Akron's Kenmore neighborhood, until diocesan officials can determine an assignment. While his assignment as an associate at the local church has officially ended, he can continue to assist the pastor with the sacraments and Mass schedule.
Ciccolini, 68, has assisted at the local church since 1980. His primary assignment, throughout his priesthood, has been as executive director of the Interval Brotherhood Home, a residential treatment facility for addicts that he founded in 1970. He retired from that position on Dec. 31.
The well-known Roman Catholic priest had stepped away from the helm in July, amid his legal woes, but continued to serve as a counselor until his retirement. The Ohio Counselor, Social Worker, Marriage and Family Therapist Board has suspended his professional clinical counselor license for six months because of his conviction. It is scheduled to be reinstated on July 20.
Ciccolini's decision to retire from IBH came after he was sentenced in October to one day in jail, fined $350,000 and ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the Interval Brotherhood Foundation — the nonprofit's fundraising arm that he admitted taking money from by falsifying invoices and financial records. He voluntarily paid back $1.28 million to the foundation and was never charged with stealing the money. He also repaid more than $292,000 in back taxes and was found to have an account with $5.59 million in cash, stocks and bonds.
Both Ciccolini and federal prosecutors have appealed his sentence. The prosecutors aren't happy with the one-day jail sentence and the priest isn't happy with the financial sanctions. Meanwhile, the agency that distributes county tax money to IBH has ordered a forensic audit of the nonprofit's financial records.
Officials at IBH have declined to comment pending the results of the audit. Ed Stanford, assistant director of administration and finance at IBH, has served as interim executive director since Ciccolini took leave from the office.
Ciccolini, an Akron native, has been the rehabilitation center's only executive director. He purchased the 86-acre plot where IBH sits at 3445 S. Main St., with his own savings and support from fellow seminarians and his pastor. The property included worn-out chicken coops, toolsheds, dilapidated barns and an old monastery converted from a schoolhouse. The complex now has seven buildings and a five-bay garage.
Ciccolini began working with alcoholics when he was a seminarian. When he was a ordained a Catholic priest in 1969, he opened a halfway house for men in South Akron, close to the neighborhood in which he he grew up.
The Rev. Michael B. Smith, pastor at Immaculate Conception, said he is pleased to have Ciccolini remain at the church. He is hopeful that his new assignment will give him an opportunity to continue to help people.
''More than 17,000 people have gone through the program at IBH,'' Smith said. ''I can say that, certainly as a member of AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] for 25 years, everyone who I have come into contact with who has gone through that program has a statement of gratitude.''
Colette Jenkins can be reached at 330-996-3731 or cjenkins@thebeaconjournal.com
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