Fr. Thomas Belczak, Popular Detroit-Area Priest, Is Cleared of Charges

Fr. Thomas Belczak, Popular Detroit-Area Priest, Is Cleared of Charges June 21, 2015

Fr. Thomas BelczakFather Thomas Belczak, the popular pastor of St. Kenneth’s Catholic Church in Plymouth, has been reinstated after a nine-month FBI investigation into alleged financial improprieties. He will return to the pulpit on June 27.

Father Belczak was suspended from the pastorate in October 2014, pending an investigation into whether he had misused funds intended for the parish. In a letter dated June 20, 2015, Auxiliary Bishop Francis Reiss announced that he will be reinstated, effective June 27.

Bishop Reiss letter

Approximately 500 parishioners attending the 5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass on Saturday, June 19, applauded enthusiastically when Father Belczak’s return was announced.

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The priest’s brother, also a Catholic priest, was also removed from service last year and may not fare as well:  

Father Edward Belczak, who was pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Troy, was indicted in April 2014 on mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy charges.

Federal prosecutors allege that he and his parish administrator, Janice Verschuren, stole about $700,000 from the parish over eight years. According to federal prosecutors, in 2005 the two applied nearly $110,000 of church collections to cover the closing costs on a Palm Beach condo which was owned by Mrs. Verschuren, and which she sold to Father Belczak. That case is pending in federal court.

 

Photo: Archdiocese of Detroit


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