In a small town in Pennsylvania, a Catholic priest admitted to the misappropriation of $40,000 from parish funds for online games and gifts for relatives. Despite the scale of the violations, he avoided jail time and was sentenced to community service, which sparked a scandal and heated debate among parishioners and public organizations. Why do such abuses occur in religious structures, and how does the Church respond when facing such challenges?
How the Scam Was Uncovered
The deeply concealed violations were discovered not by chance—a routine financial audit conducted at the parish of St. Thomas More in 2022 revealed unusual expenditures. This was reported by the Mail Online portal and the press service of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Auditors found unexplained expenses in the parish account that were unrelated to the needs of the church. At that time, the pastor was 52-year-old Lawrence Kozak, who immediately came under internal investigation. The total amount indicated in the documents was $40,000.
This case became yet another reminder of the need for strict financial control within religious organizations. Without regular and comprehensive audits, even the most established institutions are vulnerable to such abuses.
How the Parishioners’ Money Was Spent
The expenses identified by the auditors were not only significant but also rather unusual for a church budget. A substantial portion of the funds was spent on virtual boosts—special options in online games such as Mario Kart and Candy Crush.
In addition, part of the spending was on gifts for the priest’s relatives, including a chemistry experiment kit and an Amazon Fire tablet for his niece. All transactions were charged to the parish credit card, which facilitated the process but also made it possible to conceal the true purpose of the purchases for a long time.
Video game addiction is often compared to a web in which a person gets caught during times of stress or loneliness. Specialists explain the actions of those who succumb to such temptations—even in positions of responsibility—by referencing this. The lack of prompt oversight over transactions allowed the priest to make purchases for a long period, remaining unnoticed.
Factors Leading to the Violation: Personal Circumstances
What drives a person who has consciously taken on a spiritual mission to violate trust? In court, Lawrence Kozak explained his actions as being influenced by several factors. He mentioned emotional pressure related to the COVID-19 pandemic, personal losses, and health problems. During the hearing, the priest stated, “I allowed my passion for gaming to get out of control and, through carelessness, lost vigilance in managing the administrative part of my duties.”
Among the consequences for Kozak himself were mandatory psychotherapy, 80 hours of community service, and a ban on any financial authority within church structures. He was also placed on administrative leave—a temporary suspension from work to clarify all circumstances. In addition, a canonical investigation began, representing an internal church process that assesses the moral and disciplinary aspect of the clergy member’s actions.
Reaction of the Church and Parishioners
In response to the discovery of violations, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia suspended Kozak and issued an official statement on the initiation of an internal investigation. In addition to the canonical investigation, the priest received a lifetime ban on any financial authority in the church. An intense debate arose regarding the severity of the punishment: some considered 80 hours of community service excessively lenient, while others advocated for a humane approach, taking into account the defendant’s personal circumstances.
In such cases, the key question becomes: are these measures sufficient to restore the trust of believers? In most Catholic parishes, there are special procedures for the collective signing of financial transactions; however, compliance depends on internal culture and transparency.
Public Opinion and the Voices of the Parties
The reaction of public organizations was stricter. Representatives of the group Catholics4Change accused Kozak of formal apologies and stated that responsibility for the scandal should also lie with the church hierarchy that allowed the priest’s promotion to leadership positions. In their statement, they noted, “Apologies in the courtroom are hollow unless accompanied by systematic efforts to change practices within the church.”
Examples of similar incidents are known in other religious denominations as well. According to the Associated Press, in recent years there have been cases of embezzlement amounting to thousands of dollars in Protestant and Orthodox parishes in the USA and Europe.
Opinions among parishioners were divided between sympathy for a person in crisis and criticism of the leniency of the verdict. Financial ethics experts, such as Professor Marilyn Thompson from Georgetown University, assert that any abuses in religious organizations undermine the very foundation of trust between the congregation and the clergy.
The Church and Online Casinos: High-Profile Embezzlement Scandals
Although the Catholic Church condemns participation in gambling, Father Kozak is not the only priest to have been involved in a scandal with online gambling. In 2021, Italian priest Flavio Gobbo spent half a million euros gambling, including in online casinos. The priest took this money from the church’s funds, and after embezzling it, fled, but was found and sent for treatment.
Another case occurred in the USA. William Dombrow spent more than half a million dollars from Archdiocesan funds on various entertainments. During the audit, online transactions to gambling sites were also identified. The priest received 8 months in prison and forgiveness from the church.
Online casinos truly present a temptation not only for parishioners, but also for those who are supposed to serve as their example. The alluring world can cause people to lose control, especially when it comes to games that feature elements of live shows. They are becoming increasingly popular, and a vivid example is the game CrazyTimeGame. Information about it, which can be find here, shows that it is available at many online casinos. And online casinos, in turn, make gambling accessible to everyone.
The main issue in this case is not the fact of temptation, but the question of punishment for clergy. This is especially important given that they spend church funds on their destructive habits.
Consequences for the Church and Society
Each such scandal deals a noticeable blow to the reputation of the church, which is traditionally perceived as a moral compass for society. Financial management in Catholic parishes is based on the principles of joint oversight, regular audits, and transparent reporting. According to publications by the National Association of Church Business Administration in the USA, on average up to 8% of parishes annually face financial violations of varying degrees of severity.
Historically, clergy caught in such misconduct often received not only internal but also criminal penalties. For example, in 2019 in Chicago, a pastor was sentenced to 2 years in prison for embezzling $150,000 of church funds. Why do stories of financial violations in the church cause such a broad public outcry? The answer may lie in the unique combination of high social responsibility and trust originally vested in members of the clergy.
Reforms and Lessons: What Might Change
After the uproar surrounding such scandals, the church increasingly voices intentions to strengthen financial control. Among possible measures, experts cite the creation of independent oversight boards, the introduction of digital tools for transaction monitoring, as well as training clergy in financial literacy and responsibility.
According to Professor Thompson, openness and transparency are the only ways to contain risks and restore trust. Public audits and regular reporting to the community are the tools that can help prevent such situations from recurring in the future. The issues of reform remain under discussion, but wide public attention and criticism compel religious institutions to update their internal practices to meet the demands and expectations of modern society.