BishopAccountability.org
	Church Leader Busted By Carly A. Mullady And Kim Janssen Southtown Star March 27, 2008 http://www.southtownstar.com/news/864219,032708IJPFOLO.article When evil things happen in church settings, it takes faith to get back on track. And although the business manager of Infant Jesus of Prague Church in Flossmoor appeared in court Wednesday on charges of stealing $250,000 to feed a serious gambling habit, church officials said the parish already has taken steps to get back on track. Beverly Houston, 51, of the 9300 block of South Paxton Avenue, Chicago, was ordered held on bail of $100,000 during a brief hearing Wednesday morning at the Markham courthouse. She is charged with felony theft and forgery. Assistant Cook County state's attorney Michael O'Brien said Houston had stolen blank checks from the parish and used an accounting program called Quick Book to print out 144 fraudulent checks made payable to herself. Each check had the parish priest's name on it and the total amount stolen exceeded $259,000, O'Brien said. Public defender Christopher Sneed urged Baker to release Houston on her own recognizance, pointing to her lack of a criminal background. But Baker said the charges are a Class X felony, punishable by up to 30 years in prison, adding that he always sets bail of at least $100,000 in such cases. "It is a question of consistency," Baker said, as a downcast Houston, dressed all in black and wearing her graying hair in an Afro, was led back into custody. A parishioner who asked to remain anonymous told the SouthtownStar Wednesday that a conclusion to the ongoing issues of financial mismanagement feels like an answer to her Easter prayers. Flossmoor Deputy Chief Mike Pulec said IJP officials contacted police last year with suspicions the business manager had been taking money. Flossmoor detectives, the Financial Crime Unit of the Chicago Police Department, the Archdiocese of Chicago, the state's attorney's office and the church worked together to investigate documents and bank records over the course of six months. "This was a long, drawn-out investigation. We had to get all our ducks in a row," Pulec said. A police official said Houston wrote herself checks between April 2006 and October 2007. "Word is she likes to gamble, and she's not real good at it," a law enforcement source said. Priest has had similar problems While the church audit was being conducted, the Rev. William E. Killeen stepped down Dec. 1 as the parish priest. This is the second time a Catholic parish run by Killeen has allegedly been ripped off by a greedy business manager. Before his move to IJP, Killeen was a pastor at St. Christopher Church in Midlothian for 13 years. During his time in Midlothian, about $150,000 was taken from the church. Calls to St. Christopher Parish Wednesday were not returned. Killeen hired the business manager at St. Christopher who was sentenced to three years in prison for that theft. According to the state's attorney's office, Killeen hired Houston, as well. Killeen is not, however, a target for involvement in this $250,000 theft that led to Houston's arrest, police said. "During the investigation, there was no indication that anyone else was involved," Pulec said. "She acted alone." One IJP parishioner described Killeen as "insanely negligent" - and wondered why the Archdiocese placed him at the church after a financial scandal at his former church. "The parishioners' feelings are, 'We got this dope, and you guys knew all about him,' " the parishioner said, requesting anonymity. However, another parishioner, who also did not want to be named, said that exonerating Killeen from these accusations would be a blessing in an ugly situation. Killeen could not be reached for comment. Archdiocese spokeswoman Susan Burritt declined to comment but said Killeen is still officially the pastor of Infant Jesus, though the parish is now being run by an administrator, the Rev. Frank Cimarrusti. She said Archdiocese representatives had an open meeting with parishioners March 12. "The parish has now taken steps to correct the weaknesses in their financial procedures that were identified in the accounting investigation," Burritt said. Houston appears next in court on April 15.
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