A Catholic priest in Germany has admitted to embezzling a fortune from his parish to gamble on the internet.
The Catholic priest confessed to his congregation during Sunday mass that he had been lured by an online lottery scam and stole €120,000 ($137,000 dollars) from church funds.
RT reports: The priest from the eastern German town of Ballenstedt confessed his wrongdoings to around 40 of his congregants at a service on Sunday. “I was fooled by internet fraudsters” who were running a fake lottery, Bernard Gawlytta said in an emotional statement, adding that the cybercriminals had convinced him “to transfer money to them several times.” The congregation of St. Elisabeth Church reportedly reacted “very quietly.”
BYPASS THE CENSORS
Sign up to get unfiltered news delivered straight to your inbox.
You can unsubscribe any time. By subscribing you agree to our Terms of Use
The lottery saga of the 64-year-old Catholic preacher started in spring 2017, when he got an email from a supposed ‘law firm’ claiming that he hit the jackpot in a Spanish lottery and was due the hefty sum of no less than €935,000 ($1.06 million).
However, he had to pay €35,000 ($40,000) in fees to get the money. Without a second thought, he paid with his own money first. But instead of the cherished prize, more emails arrived, demanding more money. After some doubts, Gawlytta decided to violate the commandment ‘Thou shalt not steal’ and take funds from the church this summer. “My mind has stopped,” the clergyman later said, admitting his sins to Bild newspaper.
However, the voice of conscience – or fear of punishment – apparently prevailed over the voice of ‘Satan’ as the priest turned himself in to police and his bishop on Friday, to reveal everything about embezzling church funds. The bishop, Gerhard Feige, reacted sternly, stripping the priest of his post on the parish board and promised further measures.
Niamh Harris
Be the first to comment