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Bookkeeper for Catholic paper arrested
By STEPHEN NOHLGREN, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 29, 2003
The bookkeeper for the Florida Catholic has been arrested on charges of stealing from the weekly newspaper, a spokeswoman for the Catholic Diocese of Orlando said Friday.
Financial irregularities were discovered Monday by an accountant who was reviewing the books for an annual audit, spokeswoman Carol Brinati said.
The bookkeeper, Kathi Williams, has worked for the paper 10 years, Brinati said. Williams could not be reached for comment.
Steve Paradis, editor and general manager, resigned Friday. He was not involved in anything improper, Brinati said, "but felt the appropriate thing was to resign because it happened under his watch."
The newspaper, which is headquartered in Orlando, is the largest Catholic newspaper in North America, according to the paper's Web site. It publishes separate editions in six of Florida's seven Catholic dioceses, including the Diocese of St. Petersburg. It is supported by advertising and by individual parishes, which pledge to buy a minimum number of issues.
Bishops from the six dioceses, plus their representatives, make up the board of directors. Forty-five issues a year go to 144,250 subscribers.
Brinati said she didn't know how much money was missing. "The investigation is just beginning," she said. "It's going to take some time."
The Eatonville Police Department, which is investigating, could not provide details after hours. Paradis, 38, referred questions to Brinati.
A transition team will put out the newspaper until new employees are hired, Brinati said.
John Lord, a former Bank of America executive, is interim administrator, handling business matters. Gail McGrath, communications director for the Venice diocese, will oversee editorial content as interim managing editor.
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