Wis. Priest Accused Of Stealing More Than $10K From Charity
HUDSON, Wis. (WCCO) -- A Hudson, Wis. Catholic priest has been put on administrative leave after accusations he took more $10,000 dollars in charity money for his personal use.
Officials at St. Patrick Church say Father Dan Dahlberg, 68, was confronted on Sunday about the missing funds. They say he admitted he took the cash because of a gambling habit and financial problems.
A letter was then sent to parishioners about the priest who has been pastor for almost two years.
According to St. Patrick Catholic Trustee Samuel Cari, Dahlberg plans to get an evaluation for gambling addiction treatment, retire and repay the church for the missing funds.
Cari also plans to forward the church's internal investigation to law enforcement to review.
The church has been in the news before.
A St. Croix judge found probable cause in 2005 that Father Ryan Erickson killed Hudson funeral Director Daniel O'Connell and 22-year old intern James Ellison in 2002.
Erickson hanged himself in December 2004, just days after being questioned in the murders.
