The New York Times reports on a study by Villanova University in which 85% of parishes that participated reported having suffered embezzlement in the past five years.
Slightly more than one in ten reported having lost more than $500,000.
“The Villanova study does not come as a surprise,” said Bishop Dennis M. Schnurr, treasurer of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. “This is something that the bishops in this country have been looking at for some time. They are aware of a need to look for mechanisms that can assist parishes in accountability and transparency.”
While the Catholic Church has the most trouble with embezzlement it is a phenomenon that seems to reach all churches in the US. The exception seems to be the Salvation Army which, "is widely considered exemplary among nonprofits in handling cash collections. The red buckets in which bell ringers collect donations are covered and locked, and all buckets must be returned to a central location, where at least two people count the number and type of bills, coins and checks, said Major George Hood, the charity’s national spokesman."
"The money must be deposited in the bank within 24 hours, and different people reconcile the initial tallies with bank records, Major Hood said."
Word to the wise. Remember, if you're dipping into the collection plate, Jesus is watching.
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