PENNSYLVANIA
The Kittanning Paper
A former Kittanning priest has been charged with theft after a series of investigations that began more than three years ago.
Father Emil S. Payer , pastor of Seven Dolors Parish, Yukon, in the Diocese of Greensburg, was arraigned March 11 before District Magistrate Charles D. Moore in Scottdale and charged with theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking, theft by receiving stolen property and theft by misappropriation of entrusted property.
Father Payer, who has been on administrative leave from the parish since Aug. 11, 2011, was released on a non-monetary bond.
The charges stem from an investigation that began when parishioners of Seven Dolors Parish approached officials of the Diocese of Greensburg in early 2011 with concerns about parish finances. As a result of that meeting, the diocese immediately began a review of parish finances with an independent auditing firm. Subsequently, diocesan officials held a meeting on April 6, 2011, with the Parish Pastoral Council and Parish Finance Council of Seven Dolors Parish and informed council members of the review.
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