A flamboyant property developer is leading a campaign to free elderly Irish priest Fr John Skehan from jail in Delray Florida and take care of him when he is released.
Developer Frank McKinney said his wife went to see Skehan every week.
"The day he gets out there is going to be a party here like you've never seen.
"It'll be as if the Titanic arrived in the dock."
Skehan, 82, was jailed for 14 months and his co-accused Fr Frances Guinan, 67, was jailed for four years for their roles in the disappearance of $500,000 from the Church collection plate.
Both Skehan and Guinan are from Ireland, Skehan from Kilkenny and Guinan from Offaly.
Prosecutors said the priests gambled the money away on girlfriends and Vegas. However parishioners say Skehan was innocent of the charges.
Now McKinney is trying to get Skehan exonerated.
And McKinney has also organized a major welcome home party for Skehan when he is released in April.
McKinney is leading a group which has organized a free apartment for Skehan in Florida and he has even offered to let Skehan stay in his mansion.
McKinney's wife Nilsa was one of 14 parishioners from St Vincent Ferrer parish in Delray who was allowed visit Skehan in jail.
Skehan was so popular in Delray that 78 parishioners applied to be able to visit him.
Skehan is suffering from prostate cancer and diabetes and shares a cramped cell with one other prisoner.
Two inmates have been murdered at the facility, Martin Correctional Institution in Indiantown, Florida.
But Skehan appears to have become popular with the hardened jail inmates.
Known as "Pops," in the jailhouse, he brings them all to Mass and shares his money and gifts with them.
Parishioners in Delray have always denied that $8m went missing, as prosecutors alleged.
They said only $250,000 was unaccounted for and Skehan admitted that he gave $100,000 as a pension to the parish's former bookkeeper who had retired after working for 40 years.
The woman was barely paid for her work and the diocese denied her a pension.
Parishioner Michelle Donahue said that was typical of Skehan's generosity.
"He admits to this wrong but he thought it was the right thing to do.
"That is why myself and his supporters are proud of him, knowing that his mistakes were the result of his kind heart."
Meanwhile, McKinney says Skehan should never have been jailed.
"This man is 82. He comes from the old school. He didn't use a calculator not to mind a computer so when people needed help in his parish, he just got them the money."
"The accounting was lacking, but he didn't misuse the money."
Both McKinney and Donahue say Guinan was another story.
Donahue said: "Fr Skehan went to Vegas with him twice, to play golf. He doesn't gamble and there were no women in his case."
Donahue added: "There are parishioners who want to help. Some have free apartments he can use. Others want to help him get back to Ireland, if that's what he wants."
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.2BorNot2B | Mar 17, 2010, 06:59 PM EDT
PS: Same wish and dire desire goes for you, filthy-mouth moron KICkS..t- I mean, twinkleStar. -- If there were room to imagine a more hateful vacuous brain capable of holding more hatred, yours would be it! But... no, I think the Kickster and the Stinker are sister souls.
2BorNot2B | Mar 17, 2010, 06:47 PM EDT
Hey freeStinker, after reading the threats you offer to LilPaddy, I've got a better scenario for you: every time a Catholic priest hater like you froths at the mouth with blanket accusations for which he NEVER offers anything more than sensationalist slogans picked off from gay, atheist and 'progressive' anti-religion rags, you can be sure a spawn of satan is born. The bad news is that this creature's only reason for existing will be to prepare the coldest, most humid,reeking mold and vermin infested place for those of your ilk; the people who live to spread undiluted hatred without giving those within the Church you unceasingly accuse and despise one single shred of benefit of the doubt. So just as you dish it, you can be sure you'll be getting it; your personal demon will be there, ever present, ever near you to fan the misery awaiting you without respite, without mercy or willigness to reason. Just think of it, despite your desperate cries for consolation you'll instead feel the claws of loneliness sink evermore deeply into your putrid, sallow, decaying skin. -- What... you say, you don't believe that will be true...? -- Why not, I'd think it's just about as true as those dire threats of damnation you offer to LilPaddy.
murphy666 | Mar 12, 2010, 11:01 AM EST
He's doing a great job behind bars. Leave mim there, but protect him from Bubba.
ALTERSERVER | Mar 11, 2010, 08:08 PM EST
HELLO IRELAND ! IT IS NICE TO READ SOME OF THE POSTS AND SOME NOT SO NICE. WELL LETS GET TO THE POINT FR. SKEHAN LEFT 6.8 MILLION DOLLARS AT THE CHURCH HE GAVE ALOT OF MONEY TO THE NEEDY LIKE PAYING FOR TRANS PLANTS OF ORGANS CANCER TREATMENTS PAYING FOR CHILDREN TO STAY IN ST. VINCENT SCHOOL WHEN IT WASNT AFFORDABLE AND OH YEAH MORTGAGES LIGHT BILLS AND FOOD . WOW LONGEST RUN ON SENTENCE EVER! SO 40 YEARS OF SERVICE AND THATS THE THANKS HE GOT. WHEN SKEHAN RAN THE CHURCH THERE WAS LOVE THERE EVERY BODY HELPED EVERY ONE NOW ITS A PIT OF SELFISH CLASSLESS POOR EXCUSES OF CATHOLICS. WELL FOR THE MOST PART SOME GOOD PEOPLE ARE STILL THERE BUT WHEN THEY ARE FOUND THEY WILL BE RUN OUT ! THANK YOU FOR READING THIS AND I HOPE IT HELPS SOME TO UNDER STAND WHY WE SUPPORT HIM.
battlefront | Mar 10, 2010, 05:19 PM EST
They took money and spent it and went to jail so fast it would make your head spin how come a lot of priests who abused children are still walking around.
seamuscorcoran | Mar 09, 2010, 02:07 PM EST
God bless them lots of luck with the project. we need more like them
kickstar | Mar 09, 2010, 12:35 AM EST
LilPaddy You are an asshole psycho, your page is a shambles of nothingness just like that puss that forms your brain matter, I can never imagine the tens of thousands of victims in reality of the most evil organization that has ever inhabited the earth namely The Roman Catholic church would be amused by your shithouse humor... find something else to make a joke off before it is too late
kickstar | Mar 09, 2010, 12:24 AM EST
LilPaddy you a
kickstar | Mar 09, 2010, 12:04 AM EST
Yeah let's celebrate the release of a thieving clergyman what Next a release of a Child abusing priest Wow they don't exist ....Do they?????????
Watereskhill | Mar 08, 2010, 10:16 PM EST
I'm undecided as to whether this is an episode of 'Miami Vice' re-run of 'The Bells of St.Marys' or tableaux of both. The parishioners in Delray somewhat peculiar "have always denied that $8Million went missing" This vast sum has not been accounted for. The book-keeper given a hundred grand. Why would the Diocese deny her a Pension? One wonders too at the opaque 'flamboyant' generosity of McKinney and Co. "The day he gets out there is going to be a party like you've never seen" Hopefully it is to celebrate his sixty year Jubilee of being a priest. Las Vegas the last venue a Catholic cleric would consider to play golf. Temptations a plenty and then some. Yet he's been there twice? Methinks there's more to this than meets the eye. He looks more like an accolyte of Al Capone playing dithery--than a Bing Crosby Curate.
glorybe1929 | Mar 08, 2010, 06:19 PM EST
Hey forgive the guy but don't be so sweet about it.These people need to be put on trial. Don't let them go off into the sunset to sexually abuse more childrn. These people are never cured! It is a known fact. Old or young they are still dangerous sexual abusers that spiritually murder children and marginalized adults.
ceciliag | Mar 08, 2010, 04:41 PM EST
The priest who sexually victimized me had his supporters also, even though he had over 200 victims....All Little Girls. I've always wondered what these people think they are going to garner by supporting these men who sexually butcher innocent children and young people. No wonder children have no value on this earth.
ceciliag | Mar 08, 2010, 01:12 PM EST
Hey!! LilPaddy, do you know that every time a pedophile priest deniers opens your mouth god kills a puppy. AND NOW GOD is going to punish you, YOU'RRRE GOING TO BURN IN HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
LilPaddy | Mar 08, 2010, 12:43 PM EST
Boy oh Boy! What a surprise; TO SEE A STORY IN IRISH CENTRAL THAT IS NOT THROWING BISHOPS OR PRIESTS "UNDER THE BUS"... Just mayyyyybe Mr. O'Dowd finally watched the dvd's I sent him; which included my contention that "THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A PEDPHILE PRIEST"!! Ask O'Dowd to tell you I.C. readers HOW AND WHY??... And if he won't? Ask me... My contact info is on www.icvmbf.org......
LilPaddy | Mar 08, 2010, 12:41 PM EST
Who brought the charges to begin with? What was their standing? This sounds rather strange to me. Story needs a follow up.
manhattan | Mar 08, 2010, 12:15 PM EST
I'm sure if Father Skehan is innocent he would want his good reputation back above all else.
patrickesq | Mar 08, 2010, 12:07 PM EST
It reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. But in this case some parishioners have taken the initiative to welcome back Father Skehan to their/his community, showing admirable forgiveness, compassion and love. God bless them all.
patrickesq | Mar 08, 2010, 12:03 PM EST
It reminds me of the story of the Prodigal son, but in this case some of the parishioners are taking the initiative to invite Father Skehan back to their/his community with a strong showing of Christian forgiveness, compassion and love. God bless them all.
pflynn70 | Mar 08, 2010, 10:29 AM EST
Just another example of some of the very un-fair treatments some people are given, example, known pedophiles are let go or released to murder/rape etc. Charlie Rangle Head of the Ways & means Committe is still not convicted for tax fraud,abuse of power etc. The list goes on & onbut lets assume this priest is gilty of giving money to the poor, isn't this what Christ would do? Seems we still have the double standard on certain people. Shame!