By Alex Davidson
The former pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Ozone Park who pleaded guilty to stealing $95,940 in parish funds was sentenced Tuesday to five years’ probation in State Supreme Court in Kew Gardens.
Justice Joseph Grosso ordered the Rev. John Thompson, 50, of 336 Beach 38th St. in Rockaway, who had entered a guilty plea to grand larcency charges, to pay back all stolen funds.
“I’ve realized the seriousness of my actions,” said Thompson, who stole the parish funds to pay for an Infiniti car lease, trips to Mexico and Florida and other personal expenses between Aug. 4, 1998 and April 1, 2002, according to Queens District Attorney Richard Brown. “I’m sorry for hurting the parish.”
Thompson, who spoke in muted tones about his desire to move on with his life, took the funds to support himself and his gay lover, the DA had said earlier.
The sentence was the result of a plea bargain between the district attorney and Thompson’s lawyers. The deal was announced a little more than a week after the principal of St. Elizabeth’s school, Barbara Samide, who had filed a lawsuit against the Brooklyn Diocese contending that Thompson had stolen funds and sexually harassed her, was placed on unpaid leave Sept. 3.
Samide was in court with friends, family and St. Elizabeth’s parishioners to witness the sentencing. Still on unpaid leave, she said she is happy she let the public and members of the church know about Thompson’s crime.
“It’s really a day of vindication,” said Samide, who still has a lawsuit pending against the Diocese of Brooklyn and Thompson alleging the former pastor sexually abused and assaulted her. “Thompson’s actions put a mark on the church.”
Thompson, who has the entire five years of his probation to pay back the stolen funds, paid the first installment of $10,000 in restitution to an attorney representing St. Elizabeth’s.
Thompson’s attorney, Roland Riopelle, said the funds came from Thompson’s friends and family, not the Diocese of Brooklyn.
Grosso said Thompson had abused his position as pastor and treated his parishioners unfairly.
“This is the toughest case I’ve ever handled, not because of what was done but because of who did it,” Grosso said.
Thompson, who served as pastor of St. Elizabeth’s from 1997 until his resignation in March, quickly left the courtroom and did not respond to questions, but instead gave his attorney permission to read from a prepared statement.
“Father Thompson hopes that, with this proceeding, the process of healing and closure can begin for St. Elizabeth’s Parish, the Diocese of Brooklyn, the church and himself,” Riopelle said. “Father Thompson wishes his former parishioners well, and asks for their forgiveness and prayers as he and they move on and leave this episode behind.”
Riopelle said Thompson is still living in housing funded by the diocese but that the former pastor is not currently celebrating mass publicly or privately. He said Thompson could pursue counseling or social work to earn the funds necessary to pay back the stolen parish funds.
Parishioners from St. Elizabeth’s sat in the courtroom and glared at Thompson during the proceedings. In one case, Grosso had to warn the court about threatening Thompson after one man allegedly said he wanted to cause physical harm to the former St. Elizabeth’s pastor.
But Samide said Tuesday’s sentencing will help St. Elizabeth’s parishioners begin to move beyond Thompson’s crime.
“I do feel a sense of much needed closure for the church and for the parishioners,” she said.
Reach reporter Alex Davidson by e-mail at TimesLedger@aol.com or by phone at 229-0300, Ext. 156.
