Priest charged with stealing from church accounts

WHITE PLAINS -- former parish priest at Our Lady of Sorrows Roman Catholic Church in White Plains has been charged with stealing several hundred thousand dollars from various parish accounts.

Patrick Dunne, 63, who served at the church for six years from January 1, 2002 to December 30, 2007, allegedly diverted money that was donated by parishioners for several collection campaigns include the church building fund, a collection for Hurricane Katrina victims, and the weekly offertory received by the church for general church operations.

He used the stolen money for personal expenses and recreation without the permission or authority to do so, the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office said Friday.

During the six year period, Dunne wrote and endorsed checks to himself and to “cash’, failed to provide an accurate accounting to church officials and deliberately concealed the books and records relating to the parish development account, it is charged.

If convicted, he could face up to 15 years in state prison.