Thieving Detroit Priest Gets 27-Month Prison Sentence

Seventy-year-old Rev. Ed Belczak, a Catholic priest at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Troy, Michigan, near Detroit, used the parish as his own private bank. For example, he bought a condominium in Florida and invested in stocks with the more than half million dollars he stole. He was the parish priest for almost 30 years.

The federal prosecutors who took him to trial were asking for slightly more than 3 years in prison, Belczak ended up with just over 2 years.

The government asserted that the priest "took what he pleased" and deserved to spend time behind bars for extorting his parish. Belczak's attorney countered that not only did the priest have the support of many parishioners who did not want to see him in jail and that he was the victim of heavy drinking due to stress from …show more content…
It is a sad day when someone in a position of trust betrays that relationship, but it is important to ensure that no one is above the law," the prosecutor argued.

According to the Detroit Free press, "U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow said a prison sentence was necessary to act as a deterrent to others because the Catholic priest was a community leader who was 'stealing from the church and people who trusted you most.'"

Not all of Belczak's parishioners were unhappy with the ruling. Dan Haydent, one of the church's ushers said, “I think the punishment fits the crime," and noted that he was surprised to find out that others excused the priest's behavior.

Belczak was removed from his duties in January 2013 when irregularities in the church's finances were first discovered. He was charged with federal crimes in 2014.