Manchester Diocese Priest Investigated for Financial Transactions

WCVB
May 6, 2013

http://www.wcvb.com/news/local/manchester-diocese-priest-investigated-for-financial-transactions/-/9848876/20036794/-/up6ied/-/index.html


A priest of the Diocese of Manchester is being investigated for possible "improper financial transactions," the diocese said Monday.

The diocese said that earlier this year, it received allegations that the Rev. Msgr. Edward J. Arsenault was having an inappropriate adult relationship. The diocese said that as it was reviewing that claim, it discovered evidence of improper transactions involving diocesan funds.

No details of the allegations were released. The diocese said it was concerned that illegal acts might have been committed, so it contacted the Attorney General's Office.

"I am committed to reviewing our internal diocesan operations to ensure that any issues are identified and corrected, as necessary," Bishop Peter A. Libasci said in a written statement. "We will do this in the light of day. In the meantime, we will be cooperating fully with the attorney general's investigation."

The Attorney General's Office said it was informed of the allegations about two weeks ago and is investigating to determine whether a crime was committed.

Arsenault held senior positions in in the diocese from January 1999 to February 2009. Since October 2009, he has been serving as president of the St. Luke Institute in Silver Spring, Md., a mental health treatment facility that primarily serves Roman Catholic priests.

Arsenault has resigned from that position and will refrain from all public ministry, pending the investigations, the diocese said.

Catholic Medical Center released a statement saying that in light of the investigation, it asked the attorney general to review a contract for consulting services between the hospital and Arsenault. CMC said it doesn't know if the contract has any bearing on the investigation, but it asked for the review in the interests of openness and transparency.