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	Priest Spent As Diocese Grew Wary of Expenses By Alison Leigh Cowan The New York Times May 29, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/29/nyregion/29priest.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin DARIEN, Conn., May 28 — The Bridgeport Diocese has said it first spotted financial problems at St. John Roman Catholic Church here in October, but the longtime pastor, the Rev. Michael Jude Fay, remained in control of the church's finances after that and continued benefiting from thousands of dollars in questionable outlays, church records show. Among the church payments to Father Fay, who was forced to resign from the parish on May 17 amid accusations of misspending its money, was a $6,000 check in January. A note in the church's check register said it was a Christmas gift. Diocese officials, including Bishop William E. Lori, have said that their first sign of trouble came when they noticed in October that St. John spending on travel, food and similar items had grown significantly from the previous fiscal year. The officials said they asked questions and eventually started an internal investigation that resulted in Father Fay's resignation. The diocese has refused to provide details of its inquiry because a federal criminal investigation is under way, but it has said that Father Fay pursued a lifestyle unfit for a priest. A private investigator has accused him of using stolen church money for airfare, cruises, jewelry and limousine trips for himself or people close to him. Father Fay has not been charged. The diocese has not disclosed where he is but has said it is in contact with him. "The bishop promises a full report and wants to respect the independence of the investigation and let it take its course, and that's why it's inappropriate to comment," Joseph McAleer, the spokesman for the diocese, said Sunday. Early this month, unsatisfied with the pace of the diocese's investigation, the church's bookkeeper, Bethany D'Erario, and the parish's associate pastor, the Rev. Michael Madden, secretly hired the private investigator, Vito Colucci Jr., to gather evidence on Father Fay. Their involvement became public on Tuesday. Because the diocese disapproved of their secretly hiring the investigator, Bishop Lori stripped Father Madden of his administrative responsibilities and said he would be relieved of his pastoral duties at St. John once a replacement arrived. The bookkeeper's status is unchanged for now. During a meeting with angry parishioners in a church auditorium on Tuesday, Bishop Lori said the diocese could not have removed Father Fay any sooner than it did and should not be expected to discipline someone during an investigation. He told the parishioners that the diocese's first thoughts in October were that the parish might have been a victim of "mismanagement" or "inattention to administration." "But we did not think there was wrongdoing involved," he explained. As soon as he saw wrongdoing, he said, "I requested his resignation." Still, one parishioner, Regina Damanti, said in an interview that if the diocese had moved more aggressively, the losses would have been lower. "I know you have to cross your t's and dot your i's," she said, "but this man was allowed to continue to behave this way, and there were no checks and balances on him." On Jan. 10, the church's check register shows, a $4,320.59 check was paid for a credit card that did not belong to the church. There was no further explanation. The register entry for the $6,000 check says that it was made out to Rev. M. J. Fay and that it was a Christmas gift. The entry includes the name of a family that has been a prominent church donor. That family did not answer a knock on their front door Sunday. A person involved in the investigation said Father Fay told the bookkeeper to write the check to him because the family had sent a donation to the church but meant the money to go to him as a Christmas gift. The bookkeeper did not respond to a request for comment. Church records also show a $452.40 charge for airfare on the church's American Express card on Nov. 15. The passenger it named was a friend of Father Fay's, and the trip was from Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale, where Father Fay owns a condominium with another man. On March 27, Father Fay wrote to a few of the parish's wealthiest families. "I am privately writing to a small group of households to ask you a very special favor," his solicitation letter began. "Throughout the course of this past year, many unexpected and difficult bills have thrown our parish coffers into turmoil." "Would you please consider donating $50,000 to St. John Church now," the letter continues, "so that I can get us back on our feet while the future plans are designed?" "Your generosity is legend," the letter says. "Your kindness and support is so appreciated. I absolutely do not enjoy this part of my 'job' but I must ask." Related Links: • A Private Eye and the Case of a High-Living Priest • At a Troubled Connecticut Church, Another Pastor Is Disciplined • Bishop Offers Apology Amid Inquiry on Funds • Priest's Troubles Stun Connecticut Church
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