A priest from Pennsylvania has come under fire after the revelation that he might have stolen almost $100,000 in donation funds.
Rev. Joseph McLoone, 56, used the money to finance his sexual encounters with multiple men he had met on the popular dating app, Grindr.
McLoone paid Brian Miller, an inmate in a New York correctional facility whom he met on Grindr, $1,200.
The man of God had used the money he stole from parishioners at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Downingtown to pay for sexual acts, among other things. The priest also paid off the balance on his credit cards as well.
The Downingtown, Pennsylvania, priest was arrested and charged with felony theft after the story broke, and there is currently an active investigation into his situation.
Reports indicate that he might have opened a checking account in Ocean City, New Jersey, in 2011, where he directly deposited donations from churchgoers. Monsignor McLoone then transferred the donations to another account.
He stole the total amount of $98,405 in the process, according to Chester County district attorney chief of staff Charles Gaza. McLoone made 17 payments totaling $1,720 to men he met on Grindr.
McLoone used some of the money to pay for dinners, travel, and a beach home.
However, there might be more to the story, as reports indicate that investigators are still following the leads that they have uncovered.
It is not clear how the man could have managed to spend that much money on sexual services for all these years.
Members of his church are baffled as to how he found ways for his activities to go undetected for six years.
According to McLoone’s admissions, a small portion of the funds went into his sexual encounters.
Most of the money was spent on other things, which are still being uncovered in the course of the ongoing investigation.
In early 2018, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia launched an investigation of McLoone, and he was rapidly put on administrative leave, and he eventually resigned.
A statement released by diocese officials read: “These charges are serious and disturbing. The archdiocese and the parish will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as the criminal matter enters its next phase. Pending the outcome, Monsignor McLoone remains on administrative leave. Information regarding his arrest will be shared with the Saint Joseph Parish community.”
Many churchgoers have expressed their deep disappointment about the situation and McLoone’s inappropriate behavior.
However, his attorney Melissa McCafferty came up with the following defense: “What he did with his own personal money is his business. It may be between him and the archdiocese, but it’s not between him and law enforcement.”
The Catholic priest has resigned and is on administrative leave.
