Daniel Payne

Kansas City Priest Pleads Guilty to Stealing $160,000 from Parish

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Father Richard Storey, a priest within the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas, pleaded guilty on October 27 to stealing $160,000 from the Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood.

Cruises, Casinos, and the Cost of Betrayal

The details of the expenditure paint a picture of a lifestyle sharply at odds with the vows of the priesthood. According to archdiocesan officials, Storey used the stolen funds to finance international travel and cruises. The paper trail even includes at least one apparent withdrawal made from within a casino.

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For the parishioners of Curé of Ars, the “so what” of this crime is felt in the tangible loss of resources. In a parish setting, $160,000 isn’t just a number—it’s the cost of roof repairs, youth programs, or outreach to the poor. While the money has been repaid, the psychological toll of knowing a trusted leader viewed the church treasury as a personal travel fund remains.

The legal system’s response suggests a focus on rehabilitation over incarceration. The Kansas City Star reported that the plea agreement recommended Storey receive probation, which would include a substance abuse evaluation. This indicates that the court may view the theft as a symptom of a deeper personal struggle rather than purely predatory greed.

Catholic Church Initiates Judicial Process for Storey

While the criminal court handles the theft, the Catholic Church is initiating its own judicial process. The archdiocese categorized the guilty plea as a “severity level 7” offense, defined as a “non-person, non-drug felony.” However, the financial crime is not the only matter under scrutiny.

The process for determining Storey’s future within the church is rigorous and multi-tiered:

  • The archdiocesan finance council’s audit committee will first review the results of the theft investigation.
  • The committee will present its analysis to the archdiocesan promoter of justice.
  • The promoter of justice will then suggest specific canonical actions to Archbishop Shawn McKnight.
  • Archbishop McKnight will ultimately communicate the findings and the final conclusion to the faithful of the Curé of Ars Parish.

The Tension of Restitution

There is a natural tension in how this case is being framed. On one hand, the fact that Storey repaid just under $160,000 before the guilty plea is a significant mitigating factor. In many white-collar crimes, the money vanishes into untraceable accounts or depreciating assets. Here, the parish is financially whole.

The community now waits for January, when Storey will be officially sentenced.

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