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	Priest Headed to Trial on Theft Charges By Sadie Gurman Pittsburgh Post-Gazette September 14, 2011 http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11257/1174594-100.stm A Catholic priest waived his right to a preliminary hearing today and will stand trial on charges that he pocketed more than $143,000 in cash collections from his former Swissvale parish. The Allegheny County district attorney's office last week charged the Rev. Francis J. Drabiska, 60, of East Carnegie, with felony theft. He told detectives he stole as much as $180,000 in cash offerings from Word of God Parish between 1999 and 2009 and "used the money to live a lifestyle beyond his means," they wrote in a criminal complaint. The statute of limitations, though, meant investigators could only charge him with thefts that took place over the past eight years. Detectives said he deposited tens of thousands of dollars in cash into personal checking accounts and purchased designer sportswear, men's fragrances, household items, dinnerware, crystal, cosmetics and New York theater tickets. Father Drabiska's attorney could not immediately be reached for comment today.
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