Anglican Priest in Topsail Facing Fraud Charges

CBC News
May 21, 2013

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2013/05/21/nl-john-dinn-fraud-charges-521.html

Rev. John Dinn has regularly spoken at annual memorial services for the victims of the Ocean Ranger disaster.

An outspoken Anglican priest is facing fraud charges linked to the finances at his church in Topsail.

Rev. John Dinn had been on leave since January when financial irregularities were uncovered at St. John the Evangelist Church in Conception Bay South.

This past weekend, Archdeacon Sandra Tilley told parishioners that Dinn is now facing criminal charges and will remain on leave pending the outcome of court proceedings.

Parishioners were told in January that the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary was investigating the Topsail church's finances, and that Dinn, as rector, was on leave so that there would be no conflict of interest.

Dinn has been a speaker at annual memorial services each February in St. John's for the victims of the 1982 sinking of the Ocean Ranger drilling rig. The disaster claimed the life of all 84 men on board.

"Faceless oil companies are only concerned with profit," Dinn said at a 2010 service.

"The price of oil, once again, is human beings. It always costs lives to change things in the offshore and it'll probably cost more," he said.