Palm Beach priests accused of skimming $8.6 million in parish funds

Published: 2006-10-13

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (CNS) -- The bishop of Palm Beach and the pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in Delray Beach asked parishioners to hold strong in their faith and prayers after two former pastors were accused of misusing $8.6 million in Sunday offertory collections and other church funds over several decades. Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of Palm Beach and Father Thomas Skindeleski, current pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer, received repeated applause and expressions of support at Masses Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, the first weekend after Delray Beach police announced that they had filed grand theft charges against former pastors Father John Skehan, 79, and Father Frank Guinan, 63. Father Skindeleski replaced Father Guinan a year ago at St. Vincent Ferrer. Father Skehan had served there before Father Guinan for nearly 40 years, then stayed on as pastor emeritus. Father Skehan, who was arrested Sept. 27, was released Sept. 29 after posting $400,000 bail. As of Oct. 13, Father Guinan was still wanted on charges. He was believed to be vacationing in Australia. Bishop Barbarito spoke at the vigil Mass Sept. 30 at St. Patrick Church in Juno Beach, where Father Guinan had been pastor for 16 years before he was assigned to St. Vincent in 2003. Diocesan officials uncovered some financial irregularities involving St. Patrick's.

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