A Florida court sentenced Deborah True to 10 years in prison for embezzling over $700,000 from Holy Cross Catholic Church. True, the former parish administrator, pleaded guilty to first-degree felony grand theft. Prosecutors alleged True participated in a scheme with the deceased former pastor, Fr. Richard Murphy, to embezzle $1.5 million. The court ordered True to pay nearly $700,000 in restitution and barred her from any interaction with the parish. True claimed she believed the money was a gift from Murphy, used for living expenses and debt.
10 days ago
Deborah True, a 72-year-old former parish administrator, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for embezzling over $700,000 from Holy Cross Catholic Church in the Diocese of Palm Springs, Florida 1. True pleaded guilty in May to first-degree felony grand theft, admitting to stealing funds between 2012 and 2020 1. In addition to her prison term, the court ordered True to pay $697,138.98 in restitution to the church and prohibited her from any future contact with the parish 1.
Prosecutors alleged that True participated in an elaborate scheme with the deceased former pastor, Fr. Richard Murphy, to embezzle a total of $1.5 million from the parish over an eight-year period 1. True served as the parish administrator and bookkeeper for Holy Cross Catholic Church from 1997 to 2020, having previously worked with Murphy at St. Joseph parish since 1983 1.
The fraud was discovered in late 2020, after Murphy's death, when a new pastor found an unreported parish bank account 1. This account, opened in 2012, listed only Murphy and True as signatories and had received $1,466,331 in parish funds 1. Bank records showed that $549,289.62 from this account was used to pay True's personal lines of credit, and an additional $147,037.98 was deposited directly into her personal checking accounts 1. True closed the account in May 2020, two months after Murphy's death, withdrawing the remaining balance 1.
True claimed she had no knowledge that her actions were illegal, asserting that Murphy provided the money as a gift to help her with personal financial difficulties, including child support issues and living expenses 1. She stated that Murphy was "very generous to a fault" and that she "did what Father Murphy told me to do" 1. Court documents indicate True spent the embezzled funds on various personal expenses, such as Uber Eats, pet supplies, veterinary bills, and credit card debt 1.
True and Murphy shared a close relationship, described by True as "very, very close friends" and "companions," though she stated their relationship was not intimate and they maintained separate rooms when traveling 1. Murphy's obituary even noted True as his "long time secretary, Debbie True who became his caregiver" 1. True retired shortly after Murphy's passing in March 2020 1.
Robert Warren, a retired IRS investigator and accounting professor, highlighted that True's lengthy sentence is notable for its severity, especially in state court, which often imposes tougher sentences than federal courts 1. Warren believes this "tough sentence" will serve as a deterrent for both priests and lay parish employees 1.
Warren also expressed concern that the fraud scheme was not detected by auditors or internal whistleblowers, but rather by the new pastor after Murphy's death and True's departure 1. This case follows another recent Florida instance where Heather Darrey, a former parish administrator, received a 27-month sentence for embezzling nearly $900,000 from her parish 1.
The Church's stance on theft and the proper use of funds?
The Catholic Church unequivocally condemns theft as a grave sin against the Seventh Commandment, "You shall not steal" . This commandment forbids unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one's neighbor and wronging them in any way with respect to their possessions . The Church also provides extensive teaching on the proper use of funds, emphasizing justice, charity, and the universal destination of goods.
The sin of theft is considered a violation of justice, which dictates that every person should have what belongs to them . The distribution and allotment of property, established by natural law and confirmed by human and divine laws, are considered inviolable to prevent the overthrow of human society .
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines theft as "usurping another's property against the reasonable will of the owner" . This includes not only taking something privately and without consent but also possessing what belongs to another contrary to their will, even if they are aware of it . The Catholic Encyclopedia further clarifies that restitution is required for any injury done to another by detaining what belongs to them in strict justice or by willfully damaging their property or reputation .
The gravity of theft is highlighted by its comparison to murder in Scripture, as it deprives the poor of their livelihood . It is also considered a particularly dangerous sin because, even if one repents, making the necessary restitution can be difficult . St. Augustine states that "Without restitution... the sin is not forgiven" .
The Church identifies several classes of individuals bound to make restitution for theft, including those who:
Theft can occur in various ways, including stealthy taking, violent robbery, and even by not paying due wages . Wicked rulers who enact unjust laws for profit or violently rob the fatherless are also condemned as thieves .
While theft is generally forbidden, there are specific circumstances where taking another's property is not considered theft. This occurs "if consent can be presumed or if refusal is contrary to reason and the universal destination of goods" . A key example is in cases of "obvious and urgent necessity when the only way to provide for immediate, essential needs (food, shelter, clothing.. .) is to put at one's disposal and use the property of others" .
The Church teaches that individuals are not absolute owners but rather "administrators of the goods we possess" . These goods are not for exclusive possession but are means through which God calls individuals to act as stewards of His providence for their neighbors . Material goods have a social value, rooted in the principle of their universal destination .
This stewardship entails several responsibilities:
The wealthy are bound by a "very grave precept to practice almsgiving, beneficence, and munificence" . This is a duty of Christian charity, and in extreme cases, even justice . The Fathers of the Church, such as St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nyssa, St. John Chrysostom, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine, taught that those who refuse to aid the needy are guilty of theft, viewing the wealthy as God's stewards and dispensers .
Scripture is rich in passages emphasizing the necessity of contributing to the welfare of the needy, and early Christians practiced community of goods and collections for the poor . St. Jerome exhorted believers to give their riches to the poor, thinking of Christ every time they offer alms .
The faithful have a duty to provide temporal sustenance to the clergy, based on the principle that "the labourer is worthy of his hire" (Luke 10:7) . St. Paul explicitly states that "the Lord ordained that they who preach the Gospel, should live by the Gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14) . This support also extends to the maintenance of churches and the education of youth for the ecclesiastical state .
The Church also encourages frugality and avoiding being a burden to others . St. Paul's example of working "night and day lest we should be chargeable to any of you" (1 Thessalonians 2:9) is presented as a model of considerateness .
In summary, the Church's stance on theft is an absolute prohibition, requiring restitution for any injustice committed. Regarding the proper use of funds, it emphasizes stewardship, obliging the faithful, especially the wealthy, to practice charity, support the Church, and live frugally, recognizing that all goods are ultimately from God and intended for the common good.