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  Conn. Parish Upset over Fraud, Private Eye

UPI
May 24, 2006

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/view.php?StoryID=20060524-043627-6746r

DARIEN, Conn., May 24 (UPI) -- Most people in a Connecticut parish appear to support the priest who hired a private detective to investigate claims another priest was embezzling money.

Parishioners at St. John Roman Catholic Church in Darien, Conn., reportedly were loud, demanding and even yelling at Bishop William Lori about the diocese's handling of alleged financial fraud at the parish.

Last Wednesday, the Rev. Michael Jude Fay resigned amid allegations he stole at least $200,000 from the church, the Stamford Advocate reports.

At mass Tuesday morning, the Rev. Michael Madden told worshippers he and bookkeeper Bethany Derario had hired a private detective to investigate.

Bishop Lori said they should have gone through the proper channels, like the ongoing internal investigation.

The private detective turned the information over to the police. Federal authorities are also looking into it.

The newspaper said most worshippers felt like Katrina O'Connor, who said of Madden: "He took matters into his own hands, which is really brave, and we are grateful to him."

Madden has accepted an offer to stay at the parish after a leave of absence to rest and reflect.

 
 

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