Florida priest accused of stealing $370K from church pleads guilty

One of two Florida priests accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from their church pleaded guilty Wednesday, the same day jury selection was set to begin in the case.

Monsignor John Skehan, 81, pleaded guilty to bilking parishioners at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church in Delray Beach for years. Skehan, who had been at the church 40 years, had been accused of taking $370,000 between 2001 and 2006, the time frame covered by the statute of limitations. Church auditors, however, believe the figure stolen over the years was in the millions.

He and the Rev. Francis Guinan were charged with stealing to fund lavish lifestyles in what authorities say could be one of the biggest embezzlement cases to hit the U.S. Catholic Church. Prosecutors say the priests plucked cash from the offering plate and spent it on upscale homes, gambling trips to Las Vegas with a mistress and even a $275,000 rare coin collection.

“Father Skehan accepted responsibility for his actions by virtue of his guilty plea,” his attorney, Scott Richardson, said outside court. “It’s been extraordinarily difficult for him from the beginning.”

Sentencing for Skehan is set for March 20. Richardson said he could receive up to 31 years in prison or as little as probation, and was hoping for leniency from the judge.
Guinan’s trial was delayed until Feb. 18. Guinan, who has pleaded not guilty, is accused of stealing $488,000 during the 19 months after he became pastor in September 2003.