Judge Won't Drop Glenview Priest's Theft Case over Religious Freedom Claim

By Lisa Black
Chicago Tribune
February 6, 2015

http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/glenview/news/ct-priest-theft-hearing-met-20150205-story.html

[court document]

A judge on Thursday rejected the argument made by a Glenview priest that a felony theft case against him should be dropped because it violated religious freedom laws.

The Rev. James Dokos, 62, of Chicago, is accused of improperly spending more than $100,000 in trust fund money that authorities contend was to benefit Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee, where Dokos was a priest for years.

"Determining whether or not the defendant embezzled money does not require this court to appoint religious ministers, decide tenets of faith (or) interpret church doctrine," Milwaukee Circuit Judge M. Joseph Donald wrote in his ruling, issued Thursday. "Neither (Dokos) nor the hierarchical church is more capable of determining whether or not he unlawfully retained money to which he was not entitled."

Dokos did not appear at the hearing; he was excused after submitting a note from a doctor saying he'd had a recent cardiac procedure, according to court records.

The priest has been on unpaid leave from his most recent position as pastor at Sts. Peter and Paul Greek Orthodox Church in Glenview since the formal charge was filed last July. Dokos moved from the Milwaukee to the Glenview parish in 2012.