The News-Press
July 20, 2011
http://www.news-press.com/article/20110719/NEWS0102/110719019/7/EVENTS/Attorneys-embattled-Bonita-priest-planning-file-civil-suit-against-diocese?odyssey=nav|head
 |
| Father Stan Strycharz / special to news-press.com |
Both the Diocese of Venice and supporters of Rev. Stan Strycharz, embattled pastor of St. Leo Catholic Church, responded to News-Press questions regarding the legitimacy of allegations that Strycharz misused more than $1 million in church funds, among other allegations.
The diocese says no charges have been filed yet against Strycharz either under the legal system or church canon law, and that the priest continues to collect pay and benefits on involuntary leave from his post.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the Save the Southwest Florida Diocese, a group of Strycharz supporters, says that Strycharz's attorneys are planning to file a civil lawsuit against the diocese.
The diocese says that claims made in a Jan. 3 letter by the support group, which says that Bishop Frank Dewane has alleged that Strycharz had inappropriate relationships with women at the church, and that Strycharz visited a gay bar, are false.
The bishop revealed to the St. Leo congregation in late July 2010 that Strycharz had fathered a daughter before coming to his post at St. Leo.
The diocese says that the bishop saw the child's baptismal certificate, but "this and other concerns regarding Father Stan were brought to Bishop Dewane's attention by parishioners."
The support group's response details some of the $660,000 in charges a church audit says was made to pay Strycharz's personal credit card statements, which include a $20,000 charge for tiles for the parish office and other parish items. The supporters say that it was Diocesan building manager Ray Haddad who requested that some construction costs go on Fr. Stan’s personal card for later reimbursement.
Any original material on these pages is copyright © BishopAccountability.org 2004. Reproduce freely with attribution.