Priest Accused Of Stealing Thousands From Charity

DETROIT (WWJ) - A Detroit Catholic priest, who ministered at several city parishes, has been charged with defrauding a charity used to benefit the needy.

WWJ's Sandra McNeill reports that Father Timothy Kane is accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a program called the Angel Fund.

One individual donor is responsible for fuding the charity, which has granted more than $17 million to individuals and families in financial need in Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck since 2005.

Monsignor Michael Bougarans says that the fund has helped a lot of people with mortgages, medical bills and perscriptions:

"It was an honor system based on the person had to apply to the local priest, the priest signed off, it was someone they knew, they signed the form saying the request was legitimate."

Father Kane and a  34-year-old Jackson woman are accused of scouring for families to apply for the money and then taking most of it as their cut.

Kane, 57, is being charged with six felony counts relating to defrauding the Archdiocesan fund.

Kane was removed from ministry at St. Moses the Black Parish last week.