Dozens Seek Mercy in Disgraced Priest's Sentencing

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About 50 parishioners, prominent business owners, friends and fellow priests are pleading for mercy for a Troy priest when he is sentenced Tuesday on a federal fraud charge.

The Rev. Edward Belczak pleaded guilty to one count of mail fraud in September and has made restitution for the $573,000 he took from the Troy St. Thomas More church treasury, according to the Detroit Free Press.

He could be imprisoned for more than three years. Government prosecutors have recommended 37 months in prison rather than the “gentle wrist-slap of probation that defendant Belczak requests,” according to a sentencing memorandum filed with the court.

Related

• Priest, Former Parish Manager Indicted in Alleged Theft of Church Funds
• Former Troy Church Manager Pleads Guilty in Embezzlement

Belczak’s supporters and his attorney are encouraging U.S. District Judge Arthur Tarnow to grant the 70-year-old disgraced priest probation and home detention. They said Belczak drank “heavily” to cope with running one of the largest, wealthiest Catholic parishes in Metro Detroit and was “a compulsive gambler” on the stock market, but also a compassionate and inspiring spiritual leader.

Some supporters have said the public humiliation of being banned by the Archdiocese of Detroit from performing public church services is sufficient punishment for the priest, and that his good works outweigh his crime, WWJ reports.

“The defendant should not be permitted to seek shelter behind the congregation and employer he defrauded,” the government wrote. “Aided by his intellect, education and unique ability to gain the trust of others due to his well-known charisma, the defendant was able to take advantage of the authority and control he was granted over the church’s finances.”

Belczak has admitted to stealing $109,571 from a parish bank account in 2005 to buy an opulent Florida condominium from ex-parish manager Janice Verschuren, who pleaded guilty to fraud in October. Her sentencing was to have occurred in late October, but was rescheduled to Jan. 21.

Belczak also opened a secret bank account to deposit about $420,000 bequeathed to the church and embezzled $43,000 more in donations, the government said.

A Catholic priest from Macomb County, the Rev. David Buersmeyer of SS. John & Paul Parish, said Belczak’s crimes have had a chilling effect on all priests, who are still rebuilding trust with parishioners after sex scandals rocked the Catholic Church.

“Another wound has been opened up by your high-profile case,” Buersmeyer wrote. “People begin to question whether ‘their’ good priest — for you were looked upon with love and respect as one of those ‘good priests’ by so many — could possibly be doing something similar.”

» Patch file photo