:( Canadian priest allegedly gambled away over $500,000 meant for Syrian refugees

[Stelio Kontos]

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crim...icle-1.2714100


It was an ungodly amount.

A Canadian priest allegedly gambled away more than $500,000 that was intended to help Syrian refugees, cops said.

Father Amer Saka of St. Joseph's Chaldean Catholic Church in London, Ontario, was charged with fraud and a related possession charge Wednesday, according to the London Free Press.

Though released on bail, the problematic priest has been ordered not to enter any casino and has been suspended from his church.

Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, the leader of the church, said Saka allegedly told him what he did with the incredible sum when confronted about the donations given by families, under the impression he would hold it for their refugee relatives.

"I cornered him," Shaleta told the London Free Press in March when the allegations first surfaced. "I said, 'I need to know where is this.' He confessed. Right away, I removed him from the parish."

Shaleta said the money came from families throughout Canada, not just the London parish. An unidentified member of St. Joseph's said he believed the final amount that had vanished actually totaled over $800,000, relating he knew one family that gave $70,000 to Saka for their imperiled loved ones.

While insisting that the congregation was uninvolved in the loss of over half a million dollars, Shaleta said that after Saka told him what he'd done, the bishop contacted police and took Saka to a clinic for priests with mental health issues such as addiction.

"They trusted him, this money was not for him," said Shaleta. "It was to be given back to the refugees."

Police have yet to determine whether any funds were actually deposited with any church for the purpose of sponsoring refugees of the Syrian war.

What a heartwarming story. I sincerely hope all of the rest of the west can be half the shining example of enlightenment that this one Canadian is.

[Bonkbonk100]

Money well spent

[TirielWoW]

He's probably going to end up defrocked. Pope Francis will have a fit over this, I'm guessing.

[Deleted]

@Tennisace

Shame on Canada.

[TirielWoW]

The Catholic Church is loaded. I would hope they can come up with some replacement funds if nothing else.

Knowing Francis, they probably will. I'm honestly surprised that he hasn't been assassinated at this point, given how many monetary hornet's nests he's been kicking at the Vatican.

[Tempguy]

I'm not even mad.

Yeah, I'm an asshole. He should pay back the donors though.

[Deleted]

Knowing Francis, they probably will. I'm honestly surprised that he hasn't been assassinated at this point, given how many monetary hornet's nests he's been kicking at the Vatican.

I'm wondering the same thing.

[Tyrianth]

I'm not even mad.

Yeah, I'm an asshole. He should pay back the donors though.

Or, you know, give the money to organization/refugees like the donors wanted.

[Tempguy]

Or, you know, give the money to organization/refugees like the donors wanted.

But I'm an asshole... That would go against my desires.

[Milchshake]

The Catholic Church is loaded. I would hope they can come up with some replacement funds if nothing else.

This is a Chaldean Catholic Church, their guys wear different shaped hats and dont answer to the pope. I thought Canada was way to progressive to have gambling.

[Kraenen]

Anyone notice this word to be weird?

"It was to be given back to the refugees."

[Deleted]

"ungodly"
hehe

[Pickynerd]

Sorry aboot thot, and peace oot!

And Raybourne - yeah, that is weird, I wish someone would give me back a bunch of money I never had.

[announced]

should give it to the homeless instead, or give it to low income families so their kids might go to college one day.

[Independent voter]

This is a Chaldean Catholic Church, their guys wear different shaped hats and dont answer to the pope. I thought Canada was way to progressive to have gambling.

I think their priests can get married too.

[derpkitteh]

lol, that's $500,000 put to much better use.

[xwolf1989]

I think their priests can get married too.

i hear they also gamble

[Mehrunes]

A Christian church defrauding fuckton of charity money? No way, that has never happened. This week.

[A Dark Knight]

Money well spent

lol, that's $500,000 put to much better use.

so much for western values

[derpkitteh]

so much for western values

my western values are hated and spat upon by these people, so they get no sympathy from me.