Santa Rosa Priest Stole Collections Totaling $95K, Bishop Says

SANTA ROSA, CA — A priest in the Santa Rosa Diocese is suspected of stealing $95,000 in parish collections after bags of money were found in his vehicle during a traffic accident in June, Bishop Robert Vasa said Monday. Father Oscar Diaz, 56, a pastor at the Resurrection Parish in Santa Rosa, broke his hip in an accident on June 19 in Santa Rosa.

Medics who responded to the crash asked Diaz if there was anything in the car he needed, and Diaz said there were bags of money containing his salary, according to the bishop's account of the incident posted on the diocese's website.

An employee of the hospital that Diaz was taken to was uncomfortable with the amount of money in the emergency room and called police. Vasa said he was notified and he asked police to take custody of the cash for possible criminal prosecution. The money was returned to the diocese and it amounted to $18,305 in collections from the Resurrection Parish, the bishop said.

Diaz called the parish on June 24 to report he had some collection bags in his office and asked that they be processed and deposited, Vasa said. Parish staff found 10 to 12 sealed and unsealed bags containing collections in 2019 in the office that had not been deposited, and $10,083 in a sealed envelope in Diaz's desk drawer.

A search of the rectory where Diaz lived disclosed more security bags containing cash from other parishes Diaz served, Vasa said.

"The bags, some of which were dated, show systematic theft at Resurrection Parish from September 2018 through June 2019," the bishop said. "The total value of the cash found in the car, the office and the house is in excess of $95,000."

The full extent of the theft may never be known, but the Diocese intends to determine the amount stolen from each parish, Vasa said.

"Once such determinations are made, it is the goal of the Diocese to make restitution to the parishes," the bishop said.

Diaz was suspended from his ministry and his future is uncertain, Vasa said.

The bishop said Diaz admitted he had been taking money for some time.

"While I am willing to have Father Oscar face prosecution, I do not know that I want to expend additional money for a prosecution which brings no additional benefit to either the Diocese or the parishes which are victims of his crimes," Vasa said.

Diaz has given Vasa permission to provide details about the case, he said.

"He has read it and while neither he nor I desire to do this, it is nonetheless necessary for the good of the Church. Any other action would expose the Church to future allegations of 'cover-up,'" the bishop said.

"What we, as a Church, do at this juncture needs to be healing, restorative and transparent. This public declaration is a way in which Father Oscar can be made accountable for his actions," Vasa said.

The Bishop said individual parishes may decide to file charges and pursue prosecution.

"I could not oppose such an action. It is a parish's right to do so. I would however advocate for mercy," Vasa said.

"I am not negating the seriousness of the crime, I am suggesting a way forward which is more fully consistent with a good and merciful God," the bishop said.

—Bay City News Service