FBI Now Handling Troy Catholic Church Alleged Misappropriated Funds Investigation

By Carol Hopkins
The Oakland Press
April 3, 2013

http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2013/04/03/news/local_news/doc515cb9eb36928276433589.txt


An investigation into whether a priest mishandled more than $400,000 at Troy’s St. Thomas More Catholic Church is now being conducted by the FBI, according to Troy Police.

Rev. Edward Belczak was asked to temporarily step aside from his duties at the church on North Adams Road in Troy in January during the probes that he mishandled at least $429,000 in church money. The 67-year-old remains a priest but left parish housing.

Sgt. Andy Breidenich said the FBI came to the Troy Police Department about two weeks ago and took over the case. Troy police are continuing to investigate whether healthcare fraud occurred.

FBI Detroit spokesman Simon Shaykhet declined to comment on the case, and the Detroit-based U.S. Attorney’s Office would not confirm or deny they were involved with the case.

The alleged misappropriation and mismanagement include:

— Taking excess compensation beyond archdiocesan policies, estimating a loss of $92,000 to the parish over the past six years.

— Accepting and directing funds to himself that should have been posted to parish accounts, estimating a loss to the parish of $16,000 over the past six years.

— Compensating, with benefits, an individual best described as a “ghost employee,” estimating a loss of $240,000 to the parish over the past six years.

— Maintaining improper medical/dental insurance coverage for an individual, estimating a loss of approximately $26,000 to the parish over the past six years.

— Authorizing a long-term disability policy for one employee, while not providing a similar benefit to other parish staff members, estimating a loss of $20,000 to the parish.

— Allowing for the operation of the St. Thomas More Travel Group as a parish-related activity, while none of the financial transactions, records or bank accounts were disclosed for financial reporting or official purposes.

— Accepting, but not depositing or recording in parish accounts, residual commission checks to the St. Thomas More Travel Group, estimating a loss of $25,000 to the parish over the past six years.

— Failing to record or deposit monies received through the Mother’s Day and Father’s Day special collections according to archdiocesan policies; failing to monitor currency in an amount over $10,000, found in an employee’s office desk.

Belczak, ordained in 1972, also served in the past as first associate pastor and then co-pastor of Royal Oak-based National Shrine of the Little Flower Parish and associate pastor of Our Lady of Sorrows Parish in Farmington.

He had been with St. Thomas More since 1984.

Monsignor John Zenz, Episcopal vicar of the Northwest Region and pastor of Holy Name Parish in Birmingham, has been named administrator of St. Thomas More.

Contact: carol.hopkins@oakpress.com