2 Top Archbishop Ryan Officials Resign
The president and an aide at the high school quit after an audit found budget irregularities

By Frederick Cusick
Philadelphia Inquirer
November 26, 2003

Money problems have led to the resignations of two top officials at Archbishop Ryan High School, church officials said yesterday.

The school's president, the Rev. Charles Newman, and Brother Patrick McCormack, director of institutional advancement, resigned after church officials found indications of "financial irregularities" at Ryan, Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokeswoman Catherine L. Rossi said.

Church auditors are now reviewing the books. Rossi said there was no evidence of criminal behavior. She said the auditors were looking into possible mismanagement.

Stephen Pawlowski, an assistant superintendent and a former Ryan official, has been tapped to take over the school until a new president is named.

In a story in yesterday's Philadelphia Daily News, Pawlowski said Newman quit after officials found a "dramatic swing in the fund balance" during an October audit report of its properties, indicating mismanagement in the school's budget.

Pawlowski also said that Newman, who was principal of the school for nine years before becoming president last year, had been chosen for the job in part because school officials wanted to keep the presidency within the Franciscan order. McCormack resigned because of his ties to Newman, Pawlowski said.

Contact staff writer Frederick Cusick at 215-854-4449 or fcusick@phillynews.com.