New Jersey priest is arrested for theft, resigns from parish

Published: 2004-11-10

RUMSON, N.J. (CNS) -- Father Joseph W. Hughes, pastor of Holy Cross Parish in Rumson, was arrested Nov. 4 on charges of embezzling money from parish accounts. He resigned as pastor. At a news conference in Freehold, officials of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office said the priest appeared to have taken at least $500,000 from church funds for personal use and for gifts to David C. Rogers, a 25-year-old parish handyman and friend. Listed among alleged gifts to Rogers were a $58,000 car, a big-screen television and vacation trips. Rogers was not accused of any wrongdoing. Authorities also said Father Hughes signed the mortgage for Rogers' house in Howell and was paying his mortgage and utility bills there. But Kristen Cadigan of Jackson, who said she was a former girlfriend of Rogers, told the Asbury Park Press that Rogers was paying his own bills and Father Hughes had co-signed the mortgage only because Rogers had a bad credit rating.

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