CANADA
CBC News
A southern Ontario Catholic priest accused of embezzling more than $150,000 to fund his lavish lifestyle defended himself for a second day in Windsor Superior court Wednesday.
Rev. Robert Couture, formerly of Ste. Anne Parish in Tecumseh told a jury he broke church policy by asking couples to donate money when marrying them, but he maintained he did not pocket church funds.
During cross examination the Crown presented a letter between Couture and a bishop, which indicates parishioners were being charged double for wedding services with $100 going to the church and another $100 to the priest.
Couture, 52, was charged with theft over $5,000 nearly two years ago after a provincial police investigation of the church’s accounts revealed at least $169,000 in irregularities. The Crown claims Couture stole cash in several ways, including taking portions from collection plates and charging fees to funeral homes.
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