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	Catholic Church Pays Bills for Suspended Priest The Press September 26, 2011 http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/5682933/Catholic-church-pays-bills-for-suspended-priest The Catholic Church is paying the legal bills for a Christchurch parish priest despite laying the complaint that started a police inquiry into financial irregularities. Father John Fitzmaurice was stood down from his duties as parish priest at the Sacred Heart Church, in Addington, last month after Bishop of Christchurch Barry Jones became concerned about his handling of some of the church's financial affairs. Since then the bishop has laid a formal complaint with police and a fraud inquiry is under way. Fitzmaurice has been chairman of the diocese council of priests and administrator of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament. "The police will follow their own procedures and make their own investigations," Jones said. "Because of this, I am not able to provide further information or make further comment." However, he confirmed that the church was supporting Fitzmaurice financially and spiritually through the police investigation and he was still being paid his allowances, which covered his living costs. Fairfax NZ
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