Diocese ordered to disclose records

[Algorem]

Source: The Plain Dealer

Financial data sought in federal theft case
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Mike Tobin
Plain Dealer Reporter

A federal judge has ordered the Cleveland Catholic Diocese to turn over reams of financial rec ords, including information about a bank account controlled by former Bishop Anthony Pilla and payments made to the family of a clergyman after he was accused of molesting students.

The ruling this week by U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich comes at the request of lawyers for Joseph Smith and Anton Zgoznik, two former diocesan employees accused of stealing $784,000 from the church...

"This is unprecedented," said Robert Rotatori, Zgoznik's lawyer. "The diocese has never allowed the parishioners to have insight into its finances. This is the first time we will have access to the financial records."

Smith and Zgoznik maintain that the money they are accused of stealing was actually additional pay authorized by Pilla and the Rev. John Wright, the church's former financial and legal secretary. Smith and Zgoznik say the diocese had hundreds of off-the-book accounts that church leaders used to make secret payments to scores of people...




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[ChairmanAgnostic]

1. about time.

the the criminal element known as the Catholic Church has a lot to answer for.

[MADem]

2. What a SEAMY tale!

The Sopranos have nothing on those guys....payouts, hush money, diversion of funds--incredible.

[AngryOldDem]

3. This is the main problem, right here:

>>"This is unprecedented," said Robert Rotatori, Zgoznik's lawyer. "The diocese has never allowed the parishioners to have insight into its finances. This is the first time we will have access to the financial records.">>

Their books should be open to any kind of inspection; financial officers should be open to answering any questions about how money is obtained and where it goes. Why should the Church be any different from any other institution in this regard? Its secrecy over financial matters has been a huge contributing factor in the cesspool that is the Corporate Catholic Church.

[fasttense]

4. Sounds like money laundering to me. Seems there is nothing

too corrupt for the federal government or the Catholic church. The ends justify the means.