The Sins Of The Father...

The Archdiocese of Portland sent a letter on the 23rd of this month to Father Ted Prentice, Pastor of St. Mary, Star of the Sea and the finance council of the church detailing financial irregularities and questionable expenditures. They have pulled the Father's control over all finances, his previously singular authority to sign checks for the parish including Star Of The Sea School, has been revoked. He is not allowed access to blank check stocks. From this point forward it will take two signatures on checks and Father Ted's can only be one of those in an emergency.

Here's what my sources tell me is alleged about this unfortunate development in our local catholic community.

Father Ted Prentice, like any parish priest, exercised complete control over the finances of not just the church but the private school as well. He was the only authority who signed the checks and decided where funds were expended. He has been the leader of St. Mary, Star Of The Sea since given the assignment in May of 2005. Before that he was the parochial Vicar at St. Mary parish in Eugene.

At some point in his time in Astoria he started writing checks that made their way to a Mexican non-profit called Nuestro Futuro (our future). It is claimed that he and a woman whom he has identified as a 'Sister" set up the non-profit. It is said when asked about some checks that he signed he said he was paying rent for the poor in Emerald Heights. The "sister" is apparently not a catholic nun but may be a woman who lived with Father Ted's family as an exchange student for a period of time in the past.

My sources tell me that funds for the parish church and the school have been severely depleted. When our Michael Desmond talked with the principal of Star Of The Sea he said he had no idea if the school is broke. All money that parents pay and that which come from donations and fundraisers were strictly under the control of the parish priest. The administrators and staff at the school have no control over the finances. This is common practice and the Archdiocese of Portland has oversight through it's "Parish Administrative Manual" and the office of financial services.

Did Father Ted redirect nearly a half million dollars in bequeathed funds to his Mexican charity as well? We may never know given the secretive nature and culture of denial that seems to infuse the Archdiocese.

It is interesting to note that when first contacted by KAST news this afternoon the Portland Archdiocese denied knowing anything about the matter. It was only after our news team acquired a memo written by Father Patrick Brennan a week ago to the St. Mary, Star Of The Sea Finance council and Father Ted Prentice that the facts of this story began to slowly unfold.

I'm told that the county DA's office was consulted by concerned parishioners.

I've also learned that Father Ted will offer a confession on these matters during Mass this weekend and that the confession is authored, at least in part, by church council members.

It's not up to me to judge whether the predisposition of the Catholic Church to put ultimate
authority in the hands of their priests in all matters is the right thing to do, or the wrong thing to do. I suspect though that local parishioners will have learned a very tough lesson once this is all over. I feel very sorry for all those people who pay a great deal to have their kids in that clearly superior school, and those who have selflessly donated to various funds supporting the church itself.