Wednesday, September 9, 2009

SPRINGFIELD DEANERY — Brenda Driscoll, the office manager at Sacred Heart Parish in New Carlisle, was arrested Sept. 2 and charged with one count of theft and one count of tampering with evidence. Driscoll has been employed at the parish for 22 years.

Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly said investigators have been looking into the case since the beginning of this year. Sacred Heart hired a company to perform a six-year forensic audit and found that in that period of time, $105,000 was stolen from weekly collections and $1,700 was taken from the church’s capital campaign. According to the sheriff, Driscoll overpaid herself $4,368, and $7,200 was taken from bingo funds.

Driscoll, 58, pled not guilty to both charges.

Father Michael Bidwell, pastor of Sacred Heart, said in a statement following Driscoll’s arrest, “This is a difficult time for all of Sacred Heart Parish. Both the pastoral staff and the parish community are saddened by recent events. We are cooperating with the Clark County Sheriff’s Department and prosecutor’s office.

“We are unable to comment any further until their investigation is complete,” he adding, asking all to “please continue to hold our parish and Mrs. Driscoll in your prayers.”