2 priests at Delray, FL church accused of misappropriating $8.6 million

[seafan]

2 priests at Delray church accused of misappropriating $8.6 million

By Jerome Burdi
September 28, 2006


John Skehan
(PBSO)
Sep 28, 2006

DELRAY BEACH – Two priests at a local parish were accused on Thursday of stealing more that $8.6 million from offering baskets and cash gifts to St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church over the past 40 years.

Arrested on a grand theft charge was retired Monsignor John Skehan, 79, a priest and later pastor at St. Vincent for about 40 years. He was arrested at Palm Beach International Airport Wednesday night after returning from Ireland. His bond has been set at $400,000.

His successor as pastor of St. Vincent about three years ago, the Rev. Francis Guinan, is being sought on a similar grand theft charge, police said.

Police allege Skehan misappropriated about $8.6 million during his tenure at the church, 810 George Bush Blvd. Detectives said he used the cash to buy property and other assets.

Guinan was also accused of misappropriating about $400,000 in cash from offering baskets and church gifts and using the money to travel or gamble in Las Vegas or the Bahamas.

Both are accused of setting up slush funds to handle the cash.

snip