BishopAccountability.org
	Priest's Arrest Stuns Town Bishop: Trahan Cannot Minister during Query By Trevis R. Badeaux Daily Advertiser October 13, 2006 http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061013/NEWS01/610130303/1002 Port Barre - "Our little community is devastated by this." That's according to Port Barre Police Chief David Richard, who referred to the recent arrests of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church pastor and secretary. Port Barre has 2,400 residents. The church has 2,000 names on its official roll. St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, also in Port Barre, has a reported 555 members. "It's affected everyone," said Richard, who described the town as a country town with one red light and four gas stations. "Some are still in disbelief. Some are in shock," he said. "It's just a sad time, but we'll bounce back." Port Barre police arrested the Rev. Charles Nicholas Trahan earlier this month and charged him with 84 counts of theft. Trahan allegedly stole $56,000 from Sacred Heart during a two-year span from July 2004 through July of this year. Trahan, 58, denied the charges. He was released on $25,000 bond. Trahan was appointed pastor of the church July 1, 2003. Ramona Speyrer, church secretary, also was arrested and charged with 84 theft counts. Speyrer, 50, of Arnaudville, police allege, was Trahan's accomplice in the theft. Speyrer, when questioned by police, provided information that led to Trahan's arrest. She was later released on bond. Speyrer, allegedly, cashed checks written to the church and, under the direction of Trahan, gave "all or part of it" to the priest, Richard said. Police have reason to believe an undisclosed amount of cash given the church was also stolen, he said, but have no way of knowing just how much was allegedly taken by the priest and secretary. "There was a period of time when there were no cash deposits made into church accounts," Richard said. "That's all we know at this point." Bishop Michael Jarrell with the Lafayette Roman Catholic Diocese issued an initial statement on Oct. 6 that said an internal church investigation that lasted "several weeks" uncovered "financial irregularities" at the church. But the investigation "found nothing that implicated the pastor, Father Nicholas Trahan." The statement also said Trahan, referred to as "Father Nicky" by church members and co-workers, was placed on administrative leave until the matter is resolved. Monsignor Robert Romero, regional vicar for the area, assumed responsibility for "parish life, its Masses and the other sacraments." This week, Jarrell explained Trahan will continue to receive his salary while on administrative leave, but is not allowed to reside in the church parish. Priests assigned to serve at a church typically live in the rectory, a residence near the church. Trahan, he said, is "staying with friends in the Opelousas area." Trahan also is not permitted, while on administrative live, to exercise public ministry. Jarrell said his Oct. 6 statement incorrectly used the word "investigation." Actually, he said, evidence of theft was uncovered in a routine church audit. A policy begun July 1 requires 10 church parishes and five schools to be audited each year. Results of the audit were sent to the Port Barre Police Department, which began its own investigation. "There are checks and balances," Jarrell said, "but no system is perfect." The bishop visited Sacred Heart of Jesus Church on Oct. 8 and 9. He conducted three Masses and addressed questions from parishioners. "I told the congregation that the diocesan audit uncovered no evidence of theft on his (Trahan's) part," Jarrell said. "Some in the public are condemning him on the basis of media reports. I believe people should withhold judgment until something is proven." In recent media reports, the Rev. O'Neil Landry, a retired priest, alleged he had more than $200,000 in the bank in the name of St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church in Centerville when Trahan replaced him in 1999. Nearly $80,000 went missing during Trahan's tenure at the church, Landry claimed. Church officials rebutted the accusation, saying the account stood at $550,000 when Trahan was transferred to the church. The account, they said, stood at nearly $614,000 when he left nine months later. Rumors abound that Trahan was transferred from the church because of theft, Jarrell said, "but that is not so. At that time, Father Trahan was experiencing personal problems and he was referred to a medical facility for inpatient counseling and therapy." The bishop did not elaborate, but said Trahan "served well" as an associate pastor at churches in Lafayette and Church Point before being transferred to Sacred Heart of Jesus in July 2003.
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