Embezzlement Is Widespread Among Catholic Churches

Embezzlement is a serious and frequent problem in Roman Catholic dioceses, according to a new study whose results were reported by The New York Times.

The survey, conducted by two scholars at Villanova University, Chuck Zech and Robert West, concluded that 85 percent of dioceses that responded had uncovered embezzlement of church money within the past five years.

Eleven percent of respondents said that more than $500,000 had been stolen. Twenty-nine percent of respondents reported thefts of $50,000 or less.

The survey was sent to chief financial officers of the 174 Catholic dioceses throughout America; 78 of them responded.

Said Mr. Zech, “We think if you work for a church—you’re a volunteer or a priest—the last thing on your mind is to do something dishonest. But people are people, and there’s a lot of temptation there, and with the cash-based aspect of how churches operate, it’s pretty easy.”

Read The Chronicle’s article on embezzlement at nonprofit groups.

(Free registration is required to view the New York Times article, and a paid subscription is required to view the Chronicle article.)