What We Have Reported

For those who have requested a summary of the Star of the Sea situation. the following is taken from the local news section archives of kast1370.com:


'Financial irregularities' at Star of the Sea (reported January 29th)

A financial review by the Archdiocese of Portland finds a number of financial irregularities and questionable monetary allocations at St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Astoria. According to a letter from the Archdiocese Vicar for Clergy, Father Patrick S. Brennan, a recent, limited audit of the parish from July 1 to December 31st of 2008 found the financial problems. The letter, addressed to the pastor of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea, Father Ted Prentice and the parish’s finance council. The letter also states some archdiocesan guidelines for parish finances were not observed.
The letter, dated January 23rd, also puts in place several changes in the administration of finances at the parish and its associated school. Father Prentice has had his financial authority removed and it has been transferred to Paul Radu, a member of the parish Finance Council. Father Prentice will have no access to checks, except in an emergency situation, in which he may sign a check, but only with the permission of Radu. Two members of the finance council will be authorized to sign checks and two signatures will be required for all checks. Radu will work the Finance Council to assure proper management and oversight of parish financial resources. The council will have access to all parish financial records and will draw up the parish budget, implement it and supervise its administration. The council will also make sure proper administrative procedures outlined by the Archdiocese are followed; and the Archdiocesan Office of Financial Services will assist the Finance Council in its work, review its progress and make recommendations where necessary.
Father Prentice refused to comment to KAST on the financial irregularities. Bud Bunce with the Archdiocese of Portland confirms the Archdiocese gave a 20 thousand dollar grant to Star of the Sea recently, but Bunce says that is not unusual. He provided no detail as to how much money is involved or what the specific irregularities are. Superintendent of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea school Dr. Terry Campbell says he doesn’t know the extent of the ‘financial irregularities’ because he doesn’t have access to those accounts. He says the news comes as a shock to him, he had no inkling this was going on and he hopes the financial situation is rectified as quickly as possible.


Packed house for Star of the Sea meeting (reported Feb 3)

St. Mary's Star of the Sea principal Dr. Terry Campbell acknowledges the school is going through a "crisis of confidence" right now, but urges parents and the public to pull together and "not bash" Father Ted Prentice as due process continues. Prentice admits to misappropriating two sums of money, $14,000 and $17,000 and has submitted a plan to pay back those funds. Prentice admits using the funds for charities that were not within the parish. An audit now underway to determine if additional funds were misappropriated by Prentice. Advisory council member Tom Covert tells KAST that those monies are from the church account and not the school account. It costs $800,000 a year to operate the school and is funded by tuition, church support, and fundraising. The school reportedly operating at a $50,000 deficit and has faced hard financial times on a yearly basis irrespective of Father Prentice's misappropriation of church rather than school funds. Parish council chair Anita Schacher tells KAST that the church funds could have been used for school operating expenses, but are only a small part of that. A reorganization of finance management is underway. Dr. Campbell pledges that all contributions to the school will be accounted for. Campbell to meet with students on Tuesday.At the packed public meeting Monday night at Star of the Sea, considerable public support is voiced to allow Father Prentice to continue teaching religious indoctrination and hold his weekly Mass service despite his misuse of funds. Chuck Lane says the school is sending a mixed message by not allowing Prentice to continue in those functions. Principal Terry Campbell says that teaching and Mass by another provider will continue after this short interim period. Parent Cindy Howe says Prentice "admitted to stealing funds from our school" but Howe is criticized by parent Jim Lessard for using the word "steal," which Lessard says is a strong word. Other audience members urge forgiveness of Prentice and say that no one can do a better job at teaching and holding Mass.The media is criticized by the public for reporting "rumors" about the school's solvency. Advisory council members wonder where the media leak came from.and say that the council alone should be disseminating information. One parent says it's been a "horrifically negative press."


Star of the Sea money controversy has been going on for some time (reported Feb 5th)

In an undated letter to St. Mary Star of the Sea Pastor Father Ted Prentice, the Parish Finance Council recommends contracting with Mike Wallis of WWC Business Solutions to provide accounting and bookkeeping services, as was recommended in October 2006. The letter has no date, but one of the signatories, former Parish Finance Council member Ray Prom tells KAST the letter was sent in late 2006. In the letter, the council recommends financing the accounting and bookkeeping change by the restructuring and reduction of both the billing clerk and business manager positions. The letter also says "It is with both frustration and sadness that we as the Parish Finance Council find ourselves at such odds with our Pastor.... Each of us is strongly of the opinion change must occur.... The Council is unanimous in a vote of no confidence in the path you have selected with regard to maintaining the present personnel, performing the same tasks in which they have so clearly failed." The letter was also copied to Archbishop John Vlazny and Rev. Patrick Brennan, Vicar for Clergy.