Police investigating more than $600K missing from Ontario church funds
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- Police are investigating over $600,000 in missing funds from St. John The Apostle Catholic Church in Kingston, Ontario.
- The investigation began after the Archdiocese received an inquiry about an overdraft in March, with irregularities becoming evident by April.
- Friar David Collins, who served at the church for nearly a decade, resigned on July 1 and is cooperating with the investigation.
Kingston police are probing significant financial irregularities totaling more than $600,000 withdrawn from the accounts of St. John The Apostle Catholic Church. A detective from the Criminal Investigation Division has been assigned to the case, and the Archdiocese is cooperating fully, according to a spokesperson for the Kingston Police Service.
significant financial irregularities
The issue came to light following an internal announcement dated June 13 from Kingston Archbishop Michael Mulhall. He stated that a "financial issue" had surfaced regarding a pastor's use of church accounts. Friar David Collins, who had been with the church for almost ten years, resigned on July 1.
A financial issue had come to light regarding a pastor’s use of the church accounts
The Archdiocese initiated its own review after the Chancery Office inquired about an overdraft on the parish's general account in March. This prompted police contact in April when the full scale of the financial irregularities became clear. A detailed review of transactions dating back to 2019 took several weeks, with all records compiled for the police investigation.
A detailed review of all transactions back to 2019 took several weeks to complete. All records have been compiled and made available for [the police] investigation
Archbishop Mulhall informed parishioners that over $630,000 was taken through 1,196 irregular cheques. The exact distribution of these funds remains unclear. Father Tim Shea will provide sacramental care for St. John The Apostle, and a new pastor is expected in the fall. Friar David Collins is reportedly in the care of his community in Toronto.
more than $630,000 had been taken from the parish accounts through the issuing of 1,196 irregular cheques
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Originally published by Global News. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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