Ambridge priest suspected of gambling away parish cash
$220,000 missing over 9-year period
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
A Catholic priest was arraigned Friday on charges that he stole more than $220,000 over nine years from his church, likely to fund a gambling habit.
Thomas Paul Ross, also known as Brother Ambrose Ross, was charged with theft and receiving stolen property from Good Samaritan Parish in Ambridge, where the 62-year old priest had worked for more than two decades as the director of music and liturgy and the fundraising coordinator.
According to the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, an investigation was “triggered in early 2014, when a parishioner reported that his 2013 contribution statement was not accurate. Father Joseph Carr, the pastor, initiated steps to verify cash contributions, and notified the diocese when a pattern of irregularities emerged. In April 2015 the parish installed hidden cameras in the church office.”
The Beaver County District Attorney’s office said Brother Ambrose was recorded “removing sealed bank envelopes from a secured cabinet on four occasions” and that “pre-counted monies were missing.” Brother Ambrose was confronted about the missing money in May 2015 and admitted to the theft and resigned from the parish. He has cooperated with the investigation, the DA’s office said.
According to the diocese, Good Samaritan followed diocesan rules for handling money, but Brother Ambrose circumvented them with his own inside knowledge and a previously unknown flaw in theft-deterrent seals on the bags in which money was placed prior to deposit. Bags were secured with tagged, numbered ties, designed to make it obvious if tampering with a sealed bag occurred.
“Unfortunately the person figured out a way to remove and replace the tag without leaving any indication of tampering,” said the Rev. Lawrence DiNardo, vicar general and general secretary of the diocese.
“The individual with insider knowledge was able to counter each move and would temporarily reduce or eliminate the thefts to make it appear that the problem was fixed. If the person was not an insider, it would not have gone on as long as it did.”
A forensic audit by the diocese found that $24,432 was missing from weekly collections and $141,981 from parishioner envelope contributions from 2012 through 2015, with another $54,282 missing from votive candle contributions from 2006 to 2015.
A criminal investigation by Ambridge police and the Pennsylvania State Police revealed that Brother Ambrose had a Players Card account at the Rivers Casino and that from 2010 to 2015, $2,708,214.02 had passed through the account with losses of $331,531.14. His annual parish salary was $28,158.19.
Brother Ambrose is charged with three felony counts of theft by unlawful taking, two felony counts of receiving stolen property, and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. He was released on his own recognizance.
“I am deeply grieved that anyone would take gifts that others have so sacrificially given to the church,” Bishop David A. Zubik said. “I offer my prayers and consolation to the parishioners whose trust has been broken and I promise to continue full cooperation with the civil authorities. I ask your prayers for everyone who has been harmed by this, including Brother Ambrose.”