Cleveland Diocese suspends chief financial officer; inquiry continues

Published: 2004-01-13

CLEVELAND (CNS) -- The Diocese of Cleveland has suspended its chief financial officer while it investigates payments from the diocese to organizations affiliated with him and with a former employee. Bishop Anthony M. Pilla said Joseph Smith, diocesan financial and legal secretary, was placed on administrative leave Jan. 6. The action came after the Diocesan Financial Advisory Council recommended that the payments from the diocese be investigated. Published reports indicated that the council received information about the transactions through an anonymous letter and supporting documents forwarded by a local attorney. The diocese has retained the auditing firm of Ernst & Young to investigate the transactions in question which are believed to have extended over several years. Bishop Pilla declined to provide details of the investigation or what specifically prompted Smith's suspension.

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