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  State's Attorney Office to Review Complaint over Streator Church Funds

The Pantagraph
February 9, 2011

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/article_51da233a-3492-11e0-8884-001cc4c002e0.html

It may be several days before prosecutors address a complaint from a Roman Catholic priest accusing a former parish group of inappropriately moving more than $35,000.

The accusation by Monsignor John Prendergast, pastor of the newly consolidated parish of St. Michael The Archangel, has been turned over to the LaSalle County State's Attorney's office, Police Chief Jeff Anderson said Wednesday.

A spokesman in that office said no charges have been filed so far.

The money was raised by 23 members of the Rosary & Altar Society of St. Casmir's Parish, which has closed. Prendergast says the money belongs to the church.

He alleges Dorothy Swital, 86, took $35,622 in two certificates of deposit and signed them over to the newly formed Polish Altar Society, housed at the Polish National Alliance on East Livingston Street, a social hall.

Swital said that, under the bylaws of the organization, she had the legal ability to transfer the funds to the new group.

After visiting the police station Tuesday to give her side of the story, Swital said she expects the matter to end up in civil court.

She said the new society will have the same agenda as the old one: saying the rosary for area Catholics in need and raising money for infrastructure work. The only change is no affiliation with the former parish, she said.

 
 

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