Colleges hope new programs help protect church coffers

PHILADELPHIA -- The globe-trotting priest from Connecticut drove a Jaguar, shopped at Bergdorf Goodman and bought jewelry from Cartier, all with money stolen from his church's coffers. By the time the parish finance council caught on, he had embezzled $1.3 million.

THE PROBLEM: Many U.S. churches have been victims of embezzlement over the years, reflecting not just moral weakness on the part of the wrongdoers but also lax financial controls. Often, church budgets are overseen by volunteers or employees with little guidance or training.

SOME EXAMPLES: Last year, The Associated Press found reports of more than 20 churches in 17 states dealing with embezzlement cases.

The cases included those of a Roman Catholic priest in Virginia who admitted stealing at least $400,000 from his parishioners and a Lutheran youth minister in Pennsylvania charged with embezzling more than $68,000.

COLLEGE PROGRAMS: Some colleges are hoping to prevent such abuses by offering programs devoted specifically to managing church finances and personnel. Duquesne University and Boston College started programs in September, and Villanova University will soon offer an online master's degree in church management.

OTHER BENEFITS: Better financial controls might have led to an earlier uncovering of the priest sexual-abuse scandal, said Charles Zech, director of Villanova's Center for the Study of Church Management. Numerous financial red flags were missed as dioceses and archdioceses quietly settled with victims and paid for treatment for priests, he said.