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	Ex-Pastor Charged in Ripping off Church $200,000 Allegedly Taken from Parish on Far North Side By Carlos Sadovi and Gerry Doyle Chicago Tribune October 19, 2006 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chicago/chi-0610190043oct 19,1,3049083.story?coll=chi-newslocalchicago-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true The former pastor of a Far North Side church whose financial struggles were highlighted during a round of school closings two years ago has been charged with stealing nearly $200,000 from the parish's coffers to pamper himself, officials said Wednesday. Rev. Mark Sorvillo, 54, who was pastor of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 2324 W. Chase St., until February, took the money between 1998 and February of this year, said John Gorman, a spokesman for the Cook County state's attorney's office. Sorvillo is charged with felony theft and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted. He is expected to appear Thursday in Bond Court. Sorvillo resigned from his post at the parish in February, said Susan Burritt, a spokeswoman for the Chicago archdiocese. Burritt said she does not know Sorvillo's current status as a priest and was not aware of his arrest until a reporter contacted her Wednesday night. The parish's fiscal troubles first came to light in winter 2004 when Sorvillo told parishioners that the church's school was insolvent and would have to reopen as a charter school, sources said. But church members, after examining the records, became suspicious about what had happened to cause the shortfall, Burritt said. Members of the parish's finance committee said "'Oh my, something is amiss,'" Burritt said. Parishioners contacted the archdiocese, which launched an investigation and found discrepancies in the church's Christmas collection, officials said. The archdiocese then alerted the state's attorney's office early this year, Gorman said. "The system worked because of the finance committee and the people in the parish," Burritt said. Sorvillo is accused of spending the funds on vacations to Europe--including trips to London, Paris and Venice--meals at expensive restaurants and high-end clothing, sources said. Sorvillo had been at St. Margaret Mary, the home parish of Cook County State's Atty, Richard Devine, since 1994. He surrendered to Chicago police Wednesday afternoon. Rev. Jim Barrett, who was installed as St. Margaret Mary's pastor in July, said the investigation and allegations didn't seem to have wrought any lasting cynicism in his flock. "Is there anger? Sure," Barrett said. "But that's normal. We all get angry when our feelings are hurt. But you know what, they have been very welcome and open to me." In 2004, members of St. Margaret Mary raised more than $50,000 in pledges to support the school, launched an alumni association and switched principals in an effort to boost enrollment. The archdiocese, citing lack of funding, had earlier announced plans to shutter dozens of schools where enrollment was dwindling. Eventually, 23 schools closed, affecting about 4,000 students in Chicago and its suburbs. Barrett said the school now is thriving and has added 40 students over the summer. Parishioners "really rose to the occasion," he said. csadovi@tribune.com gxdoyle@tribune.com
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