Westmoreland County priest to serve probation, pay restitution
A Westmoreland County Roman Catholic priest was sentenced to 10 years probation and ordered to make nearly $100,000 in restitution after pleading guilty Thursday to five felony counts of theft.
The Rev. Emil S. Payer, the former pastor of Seven Dolors Parish in Yukon, was also ordered to receive a mental health evaluation and treatment. He was also ordered to pay $98,034 in restitution.
Payer, 69, allegedly stole $124,000 money from the South Huntingdon Township parish. Payer’s attorney was able to document that $26,000 went to legitimate church expenses.
He was sentenced by Westmoreland County Judge Debra A. Pezze.
“Today’s agreement by Father Emil Payer to accept responsibility for his actions and to pay restitution to the parish brings some closure for the people of Seven Dolors Parish,” said Greensburg Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt. “It has been more than three years since parishioners brought their concerns about parish finances to the diocese. This has been a long process for them, and I appreciate their patience during the criminal justice process. I think this is a fair settlement which allows the parish to recover its funds.”
According to Jerry Zufelt, the managing director for the office of communications at the Diocese of Greensburg, the diocese will review Payer’s future status in the diocese within the parameters of the church’s Canon Law. Payer will remain on administrative leave and continue to be restricted from public ministry.
Payer, who formerly served at St. Therese in Uniontown and St. John the Baptist in Scottdale, was at the church from October 2008 through August 2011. The investigation stemmed from concerns brought to the diocese officials in October 2010.
Brandt placed Payer on administrative leave and in July 2012 issues new parish financial procedures in the diocese which serves more than 160,000 Roman Catholics in Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana and Westmoreland counties.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.