[Update]
I read the original article from the CBC as, the money was being collected by the church for orphans in Tanzania.
Yuen estimated the church lost between $20,000 and $54,000. The money was being collected to be distributed to orphans in Tanzania.
The Winnipeg Sun has a different take on the story. The article indicates that Raju Madanu claims that he stole the money for orphan in Tanzania. There are a lot more details in the Sun article so I am included to believe that it is correct.
The accused claimed that he took the money to send to an orphanage in Tanzania and eventually acknowledged stealing $13,200, a figure agreed to by the church which originally estimated up to $20,000 may have been taken.
However, an examination of wire transfer records has only added to the mystery.
Lonstrup noted records indicate Madanu sent only $611 to Tanzania and investigators couldn’t determine whether the funds went to an orphanage.
Records also show more than $54,000 — more money than the church estimated was missing — was sent to individuals with the surname of Madanu.
[Update]
The CBC has posted an updated story. The estimated amount stolen is $20,000, and the section about the money being for Tanzania orphans has been dropped.
[Original]
The CBC is reporting that Brandon, Manitoba Catholic priest Raju Madanu plead guilty to breaking and entering and theft from the parish. The estimated missing $20,000 to $54,000 was intended for orphans in Tanzania. This was not a one time event nor was it a moment of weakness. For 5 months, he shut off the churches alarm system every Monday between 4AM and 5AM and took a portion of the donations. This was a willful premeditated action.
This is the second Catholic priest with recent legal problems. Why does the media report Catholic Priests as former pastors. Initially they did the same with Raymond Lahey, the Nova Scotian Catholic Bishop accused of entering Canada with child pornography. If they are Catholic are they not priests. Are they not still members of the clergy? Were they not Priest or Bishop at the time.
