In 2006, Fr. Kenny was the pastor of Christ the King Catholic Community in Las Vegas. He was approached by an elderly parishioner to help her with managing a large sum of money that she received from a settlement of her late husband. In order to take control of her finances, the Bishop would have had to approve it. Fr. Kenny, through his own admission, proceeded to steal over $200,000 from this elderly parishioner. The women's family suspected something was wrong and the Bishop put Fr. Kenney on "Administrative Leave". The case was settled and the court case was sealed. A short time after the case was sealed the Bishop reinstated Fr. Kenny, not just a priest of the Diocese but as Pastor of Christ the King Catholic Community.
Here are the articles. They might be a little redundant but I want to present everything I have:
- CHRIST THE KING: LV Catholic priest relieved of duties
- Visiting priest assures Christ the King flock
- Unsealing cases reveals details of woman's case against priest
- Priest gets duties back
Now let me point out that he is required to have the permission of the Bishop to take control of a parishioner's finances. In light of that we must consider that Fr. Kenny did one of two things. He either obtained permission from the Bishop and then stole the funds, or he did not obtain permission and thus the Bishop would be unaware of what was transpiring.
Fr. Kenny publicly admitted to the theft. We must in good faith assume that he did make a good confession, received absolution, and made atonement for his actions. But we must still ask why would someone, who openly admitted to numerous instances of theft over a period of time, be reinstated as Pastor of a parish, in a position of authority and of financial administration?
In addition to being reinstated as Pastor, Fr. Kenny has also been given a instructor position in the Lay Ecclesial Ministry Program (LEMP) and Advanced Ministry Formation (AMF). As I said in a previous post, these are the programs that are used for the formation of permanent deacons and are sponsored by the Bishop. Fr. Kenney joins Fr. Just as another questionable appointee to these programs.
Bishop Pepe has made a career out of covering up scandals involving priests. For example, when Msgr. Joseph Pepe left Philadelphia to go to Santa Fe to help with the abuse crisis there, he had already been involved in coverups in Philadelphia: http://www.catholicsexabuse.com/THE_PHILADELPHIA_GRAND_JURY_REPORT/Section_V__Selected_Case_Studies_Father_Albert_T_Kostelnick
ReplyDeleteThen he went to Santa Fe to help with the abuse crisis there, and ended up as a close friend with one of the priest abusers! http://www.snapnetwork.org/snap_press_releases/2004_press_releases/073004_helpfrom_new_mexico_bishop.htm or http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Bruckner_Ronald_147340533.aspx
Currently, Bishop Pepe remains close friends and traveling companion of disgraced Father Bruckner. Even after Bruckner was restricted from priestly ministry, Pepe and Bruckner appeared at public events together, with Bruckner presenting himself as a priest in good standing. For example, on one occasion when Bruckner was visiting Pepe in Nevada, they attended an Episcopal ceremony together as Catholic representatives: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_93427_ENG_HTM.htm
With McAuliffe exposed as a fraud, others remain. For Pepe to allow Kenny a return to function as a Priest is beyond understanding. Pepe seems to perpetuate corruption well. Kenny was not only welcomed back, but given other duties-one including the instruction of those preparing to become ordained Deacons. This is shocking. Bishop Pepe is a part of the problem, not the solution. Kenny is arrogant, a man with an over inflated sense of entitlement. His self perception is one of intelligence. Yet,he lacks the clear and pure thinking of a truly intelligent man.Kenny is not bright so much as he is an actor,or as one long time CTK parishioner puts it, "A thespian. More of a politician than priest. A man who seeks not what is truly right, but rather, one who seeks to be politically correct." I fear this is one of the most corrupt Diocese in the nation. Kenny never should have been allowed to return to the priesthood. It's just another shining example of how Bishops perpetuate corruption and even, criminal behavior. Francis Vivona should be investigated.A full scale audit will find him having to explain monies disproportionate to his parish. Thanks to SEAS and McAUliffe-the builders of OLOW and the Vivona Empire.
ReplyDeleteYeah,,and what ever happened to the case involving a child and Bill Kennys former associate pastor , jerome nadine, who was accused of a pedophile offense. I know for a fact jerome never did any jail time.
ReplyDeleteWhat are the details of the pedophile charge against Nadine? He is now living in North San Diego County and has new ties to some of the churches here. Is there something they should know about him down there? There is a Clark County civil case where two women were passing out flyers about something Nadine had done and Nadine hired a lawyer to stop them. This started in 2006. Nadine was suspended when he got involved in the Kenny embezzlement case according to the Las Vegas newspaper stories...
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