The Rev. Samuel R. Ciccolini has been suspended by the Cleveland Diocese, effective last Friday, and cannot publicly say Mass or hear confessions.
Parishioners at Immaculate Conception were read a letter from Richard G. Lennon during weekend Masses informing them of Fr. Sam’s suspension and that his salary, paid by the diocese, would be discontinued effective March 31.
Ciccolini's official status is now ''priest awaiting assignment,'' according to Robert Tayek, diocesan spokesman. He is allowed to say Mass ''privately,'' where only he is present; can continue to reside at Immaculate Conception and will continue to receive his benefits, which include health care and pension.
Ciccolini, 68, has assisted at Immaculate Conception in Kenmore neighborhood since 1980. He was an assistant (parochial vicar) at St. Paul from December 1974 to December 1975.
He was sentenced in October to one day in jail, fined $350,000 and ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the Interval Brotherhood Foundation — the nonprofit's fundraising arm that he admitted taking money from by falsifying invoices and financial records. He voluntarily paid back $1.28 million to the foundation and was never charged with stealing the money. He also repaid more than $292,000 in back taxes.
Read the story on page 1 of the Akron Beacon Journal by religion writer Colette M. Jenkins.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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