Former Warwick priest accused of stealing from church

By Jessica A. Botelho
WJAR/NBC 10 News
June 16, 2020

https://turnto10.com/news/local/former-warwick-priest-accused-of-stealing-from-church-ri-state-police-say

Former parish pastor Matthew Glover addressed a congregation at SS. Rose and Clement Parish in Warwick in August 2019.

Former parish pastor Matther Glover wrote this letter to his parishioners in August 2019.

A former Catholic priest has been accused of stealing from a Warwick church, according to Rhode Island State Police.

State police said Steven Matthew Glover, 42, of Coventry, was arrested on Tuesday.

Glover is facing multiple charges, including the following:

• Obtaining money over $1,500
• Larceny over $1,500
• Fraudulent use of a credit card

State police told NBC 10 that authorities began investigating after they received a complaint from the Providence Diocese Office of Compliance in November 2019 in regard to the potential misuse of a credit card.

Glover, who was assigned to SS. Rose and Clement Parish in Warwick, resigned from his position as pastor in August.

At that time, he shared the news of his departure with his parishioners in a letter he left in a weekly bulletin.

"After 15 years as a priest at St. Lukes, URI and St. Rose and Clement I have prayerfully decided to leave the active ministry," Glover wrote in the letter. "I am extremely grateful for the love of God which has filled my life with through the sacramental relationships I have formed with each one of you. I am leaving at peace, joyful, and grateful to God."

In the letter, Glover also thanked Bishop Thomas J. Tobin, who heads the Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence.

The bishop acknowledged Glover's resignation on Twitter.

"Always extremely disappointing, for a bishop and many others, when a priest leaves the active ministry, but my prayers and blessings go with Fr. Matt as he begins walking his new chosen path. May God be with him," Bishop Tobin previously tweeted.

State police said Glover was arraigned on $5,000 personal recognizance and later released.

A court date had yet to be scheduled.

An NBC 10 reporter called Glover's cell phone, but the former priest did not answer.