Jul 30, 2008 11:22 pm US/Central
Pastor Accused Of Using Church Funds To Gamble
ROSELLE, Ill. (CBS) ―
A pastor in Roselle is accused of stealing thousands of dollars in church funds to feed his gambling habit. CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports.
Lou Vicari has been a parishioner at St. Walter Catholic Church for almost two decades.
"You feel, 'what the heck!' If you can't trust a priest, who can you trust?" Vicari said.
Vicari says the news that his pastor, the Rev. John Regan, allegedly used $112,000 in church money to support a gambling addiction, deeply saddens him.
"What does the priest stand for then? Like I say, I know they're human beings. They have faults like all of us have faults," Vicari said.
A Diocese of Joliet spokesperson says a local bank noticed irregularities in banking transactions and an internal audit was done. That's how the missing money and Rev. Regan's involvement came to light.
The Diocese has already paid the church back and is also seeking restitution from Rev. Regan, who is on administrative leave. Ordained in 1989, he had been the pastor at St. Walter since June 2006. No charges have been filed against him.
"What can you say? It's just a shame that they do this," Vicari said.
The Diocese issued a statement, which says in part:
"The Parish is financially sound. The Diocese has insurance to cover misappropriation and has notified its insurance company."
A parishioner who did not want to appear on camera, says this can be a time of spiritual growth for the church.
"It truly is a test of our Catholic faith, in terms of moving forward, forgiving for one who has potentially offended us and carrying on," the parishioner said.
That parishioner says, what pastor Regan needs right now, is prayer.
Meantime, the Diocese of Joliet says Pastor Regan could not comment on this story because he is out of state at a treatment center right now -- for his gambling addiction.
(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Video: CBS 2's Picks To Click
