Financial mismanagement cited in pastor's removal

Published: 2007-01-26

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (CNS) -- Bishop William E. Lori of Bridgeport cited persistent "financial mismanagement" as the reason he asked for and accepted the resignation of Father Michael R. Moynihan, 54, as pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish and St. Timothy Chapel in Greenwich. Speaking at all Masses at the two churches the weekend of Jan. 20-21, Bishop Lori told parishioners that more than $500,000 in expenditures by the priest from a secret parish bank account "have proven difficult to support" with any evidence of what the money was used for. He praised Father Moynihan's 14 years of "dedicated, pastoral love" as a pastor in Greenwich, but said the financial mismanagement was severe and continued after warnings from the diocese. "Despite all his talents and priestly generosity, Father Michael was simply unable or unwilling to lead the parish to a new day of financial accountability and transparency," he said.

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