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	Bishop Offers an Apology to Parishioners By Vesna Jaksic Stamford Advocate May 22, 2006 http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/local/scn-sa-priest4 may22,0,3948376.story?coll=stam-news-local-headlines DARIEN -- Bishop William Lori yesterday apologized to parishioners of St. John Roman Catholic Church for a scandal involving their priest and vowed that the Bridgeport Diocese will investigate the church's finances. The Rev. Michael Jude Fay, pastor of the Post Road church since 1991, accepted Lori's request to resign Wednesday after the diocese discovered that he had stolen church money, officials said. Lori and other diocesan officials said yesterday Deloitte & Touche has been hired to conduct a full forensic investigation of St. John's finances. During a 10 a.m. Mass, Lori told the standing-room-only crowd that he wanted to be with them in their difficult time. "It is precisely in these moments of tension, disappointment, anger and sadness that the quality and capacity of our love is tested," he said. "I'm deeply sorry this parish is going through such a severe test and came in person to apologize." According to published reports, a Stamford private investigator, Vito Colucci Jr., documented that Fay used at least $200,000 of church money to pay for trips, dinners and limousine rides as part of a relationship with another man. Diocesan officials said yesterday they do not know who hired the investigator and said they had started looking into the matter on their own last year. Last week, they contacted the U.S. attorney's office in Connecticut, which is investigating, they said. Norm Walker, chief financial officer for the diocese, said he could not confirm that the $200,000 figure is accurate because the investigation is in its early stages. Suspicions surfaced last year, when officials noted expenses in some accounts, such as food and travel, had increased by as much as 150 percent over the previous year, Walker said. In October, the parish finance council met after noticing delinquent payments to some employee benefit plans, he said. Earlier this year, officials from People's Bank notified officials that a small loan taken out by the church was 18 months overdue, Walker said. During his homily, Lori said he believes a "considerable portion" of parishioners' offerings was used to fund the type of lifestyle that no follower of Christ, particularly a priest, should lead. The diocese will try to make restitution and will inform the parish council of the investigation's results, Lori said. "Whatever your feelings and mine may be, we also need to pray for Father Fay and everyone else involved in this crisis," said Lori, who wrote letter about the resignation and investigation that was distributed at Mass. Last week, St. John's collected $9,600 in offertory contributions, coming short of its goal of $11,000, according to the church bulletin. There was no sign that yesterday's donations had dwindled, and attendance was comparable with other Sundays, church officials said. As they left the small church in the affluent suburb, most parishioners walked past a television crew and a few newspaper reporters and photographers waiting in front. Many declined to comment, but some spoke highly of Fay. "Father Fay is a human being like everyone else," said Martha Gelineau of Darien. "I pray for him. He's a great man." Rose Bivona, 76, a church parishioner for more than 20 years, said Fay is "very, very special." "I'm not saying he was God, but he really had something special about him," Bivona said. "I think that parishioners of this church are very strong people. They'll spring back very quickly. . . . I don't think there's been anger, just disappointment and sadness." Fay, 55, resigned Wednesday and moved out of his apartment the same day, diocesan officials said. The investigation did not include allegations of sexual abuse. As far as reports that Fay had a close relationship with a man, Walker and other officials said it was the first they heard of it. "We never even knew anything about this," said Nancy Matthews, chancellor of the diocese. The Rev. Michael Madden, parochial vicar at the parish, has been appointed acting administrator. Lori said he will find a permanent successor as soon as possible. He said he and his representatives planned to attend every Mass at the church over the weekend. Fay was ordained in 1978 and served in parishes in Greenwich and New Canaan before being assigned to the Darien church in 1991. He also served on the diocese's Sexual Misconduct Review Board, an advisory group formed to examine church polices after the nationwide sex abuse scandal. Lori said he's known Fay for about five years and visited the church several times. He said his hope is that the investigation will determine what happened and that the church remains united. "I know it's a great and strong community," he said.
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