Downingtown Priest Sentenced In $30K Theft From St. Joseph Church

DOWNINGTOWN, PA — Father McLoone seemed repentant and he will serve five years of court supervision after confessing to committing a crime — one that broke the commandment not to steal.

Joseph McLoone, 58, of Bryn Mawr, pleaded guilty to theft and related charges for stealing more than $30,000 in parish funds during the seven years he was pastor for St. Joseph’s Church in Downingtown.

While commandments and confession are not matters of law, Chester County's District Attorney decried the moral failure the case represented. District Attorney Deb Ryan said, "This was a disgraceful violation of the trust of the members of St. Joseph's Church for his personal gain."

The District Attorney's report said McLoone began his service as pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in Downingtown in 2011 after the removal of Msgr. William Lynn. While McLoone served at the church, he stole over $30,000 for his personal use, according to the report.

The money he stole included donations from the congregation related to special collections held during Mass and fees paid to the parish for weddings and funerals by those married at the church or holding funeral services.

"He used his position as pastor to unlawfully benefit from the parish's generosity to fund travel, (and for) men he paid with whom he maintained sexual relationships and other personal uses," Ryan said.

According to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's statement on the case, McLoone acknowledged that "some expenditures from this account were for personal expenses of an inappropriate nature."

The Archdiocese said, "Those expenses were related to relationships with adults that represented a violation of The Standards of Ministerial Behavior and Boundaries established by the Archdiocese. None of this activity involved other members of the Saint Joseph Parish community."

McLoone was sentenced to five years of court supervision, the first nine months completed on electronic home confinement, restitution, and other conditions. He has been on administrative leave since 2018 when parish officials first discovered the improper use of church funds, the D.A.'s report said.

"Given the defendant's acceptance of responsibility for his illegal activity, the agreement of the parish and Archdiocese, and his intention to make restitution to the church, we believe this was a reasonable resolution. An investigation will now commence by the Archdiocese (of Philadelphia),” Ryan said.

The Archdiocese of Philadelphia said it learned in early 2018 that then-Monsignor McLoone had established a bank account in the name of the parish that was not on the parish books.

"As such, activity from this account was not reflected in regular reports reviewed with the parish finance council or provided to the Archdiocese. This account was opened in November 2011, the Archdiocese reported. McLoone was the only signer on this account and he acted alone with respect to all of the account’s activity, the report said.

Off-book accounts are in violation of standard Archdiocesan financial control practices and procedures, the Archdiocese said. "This bank account was frozen in February 2018 and a review of parish financial records was then undertaken by personnel from the Archdiocesan Office for Parish Services and Support," the Archdiocese reported.

According to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia's report, McLoone remains on administrative leave.

The full statement issued by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on the case can be read here.

Judge Jacqueline Cody presided, and Chester County Detectives investigated. Assistant District Attorneys Kathleen Wright and Ron Yen were the assigned prosecutors.

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