New York priest stole over $800,000 from his church, spent it on golf

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

A Roman Catholic priest was indicted yesterday on charges of stealing more than $800,000 from his Upper East Side church, prosecutors said.

The priest, Msgr. John G. Woolsey, 67, is accused of second- and third-degree grand larceny for funneling church donations to his bank account, according to prosecutors, and then using the money to buy luxury watches, golf vacations and expensive meals.

He surrendered to the police yesterday morning, said his lawyer, Nicholas M. De Feis, and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment in State Supreme Court in Manhattan. If convicted, Monsignor Woolsey faces up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said. Judge Michael R. Ambrecht ordered that he be released without bail.

Mr. De Feis said his client had never taken any money from the church, St. John the Martyr on 71st Street at Second Avenue. He said in a statement that parishioners had donated money to finance church repairs and that Monsignor Woolsey spent some of the money on himself, but "never in an amount exceeding the parishioners' intent."

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/27/nyregion/27pastor.html

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

1. Just how deluded do you have to be...?

...Monsignor Woolsey spent some of the money on himself, but "never in an amount exceeding the parishioners' intent."

This guy expects people to believe the parishioners *wanted* him to raid the collection plate? I mean, I know there are a lot of crazies in New York, but this...!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. Yikes!

[hickman1937]

3. I don't post on priest threads. n/t

[CanuckAmok]

4. So... would that make him a "fore-father"?

...

[existentialist]

5. But can't you tell us what we really want to know?

Is he a "pro-life" Republican priest?

[Dont_Bogart_the_Pretzel]

6. I'll bet he won't spend a day in the pin!

"If convicted, Monsignor Woolsey faces up to 15 years in prison, prosecutors said. Judge Michael R. Ambrecht ordered that he be released without bail."

[pitohui]

7. eh golf

it's a hell of a drug

[benny05]

8. Better than pedophila

yet golf is called golf for a reason..

because the other better 4 letter words were taken first!:bounce:

[ForrestGump]

9. The Lord helps those who help themselves

Can I have an Amen?