Priest accused of stealing $95,000

A priest stole more than $95,000 from Northern California parishes where he served over the last several years, according to the Diocese of Santa Rosa.

The theft was discovered during a car crash investigation last month in which Father Oscar Diaz, 56, was injured, Bishop Robert Vasa said.

Diaz, then pastor at Resurrection Roman Catholic Parish in Santa Rosa, alerted emergency medical technicians that several bags of money were inside his vehicle after the June 19 crash, Vasa said.

The priest told the EMTs the cash — more than $18,000 — was his salary, authorities said.

The money was taken to the emergency room with Diaz, and a hospital employee alerted police, who then contacted Vasa.

Further investigation uncovered 15 bags containing more than $77,000 in cash in Diaz’s car, office and home, including a stack of $100 bills, the diocese said.

Parish officials said the money had been taken from collection plate offerings between September and June.

Vasa said Diaz admitted he had been taking collection funds from other parishes in California where he had served as pastor. According to the Mercury News, money also was taken from the Parish of St. Mary Immaculate in Lakeport and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Clearlake.

“The full extent of the theft is not known,” Vasa said. But the diocese is committed to determining the extent of the theft from the parishes with the goal of making restitution, he said.

Diaz was ordained for the Diocese of Santa Rosa in 1994. He has been suspended from the ministry, Vasa said.

Diaz has not been charged.