By Eric Herman and Stefano Esposito
Chicago Sun-Times
March 27, 2008
http://www.suntimes.com/lifestyles/religion/863685,CST-NWS-church27.article
For the second time in a row, a Catholic parish run by the Rev. William Killeen has allegedly been ripped off by a greedy business manager.
Beverly Houston, former business manager of the Infant Jesus of Prague parish in south suburban Flossmoor, appeared at the Markham courthouse Wednesday on charges she stole more than $259,000 from the church.
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| More than $259,000 was stolen from Flossmoors Infant Jesus of Prague church by its business manager, Beverly Houston (top), authorities say. This is the second time a parish run by Rev. William Killeen (below) has allegedly been ripped off by a greedy business manager. Photo by Jean Lachat |
She was ordered held on $100,000 bond. If convicted, she could face up to 30 years in prison.
Infant Jesus of Prague has been roiled by rumors of financial wrongdoing since late last year, when Killeen was temporarily removed and the Archdiocese of Chicago announced an audit.
One parishioner described Killeen as "insanely negligent" — and wondered why the archdiocese placed him at the church after a financial scandal at his former church, St. Christopher parish in Midlothian.
"The parishioners' feelings are, 'We got this dope, and you guys knew all about him,'" the parishioner said, requesting anonymity.
Killeen could not be reached for comment. Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Burritt said Killeen is still officially the pastor of Infant Jesus, though the parish is now being run by an administrator, the Rev. Frank Cimarrusti.
According to Assistant State's Attorney Michael O'Brien, Houston wrote 144 checks to herself between April 2006 and October 2007. Houston, 51, allegedly used the money to gamble at riverboat casinos in Indiana, sources said.
Several law enforcement sources said Houston apparently acted alone and that Killeen is not a target of the investigation. "We have nothing to believe that he was involved in this," said Flossmoor Deputy Police Chief Mike Pulec.
But another parishioner, Deborah Harris, said, "We figure the pastor has something to do with it. ... He should know what's going on with the finances."
Complaints about missing money abounded at St. Christopher, too. In 2006, church business manager Jim Nelson pleaded guilty to stealing more than $100,000 and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Killeen became pastor at Infant Jesus in 2004. The next year, money disappeared from collections. In 2005, Killeen got rid of the church's longtime business manager, whom a parish source called "honest to a fault."
Killeen raised eyebrows when he spent $25,000 to remodel the rectory and install a wet bar. And he approved an extensive renovation of the church, even though a $1 million anonymous donation did not come through. As a result, the parish is in debt about $1.8 million to the archdiocese, a source said.
Other debt of nearly $268,000 will be forgiven by the archdiocese, the source said.
Contact: eherman@suntimes.com, sesposito@suntimes.com.
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