A parish priest in west London has received a suspended sentence after being found guilty of stealing £200 from his church’s Sunday collection. Father Fortunato Pantisano, 44, who was based at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Fulham, was caught on CCTV taking the money from a locked office. Despite fighting the charges and maintaining his innocence, the Italian-born priest now faces the possibility of being expelled from the Roman Catholic Church.
District Judge Daniel Sternberg, who presided over the case, stated that the priest’s actions represented a breach of trust, considering his position within the church. The judge emphasized that Father Pantisano had not admitted to the theft and had even claimed entitlement to the money in question, which was collected during the church’s Sunday masses on January 7.
Father Pantisano was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, which was suspended for two years, meaning he will not serve jail time unless he reoffends during this period. He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to the church, along with £654 in costs and a £154 victim surcharge.
The incident has caused significant unrest within the church, as parishioners had already reported missing funds in recent weeks. Parish volunteer John McGranaghan, who had placed the collection money in the locked office, told the court that when he returned to count the funds, the baskets were empty. The CCTV footage showed Father Pantisano entering the office through an adjoining door from his residence, removing the cash-filled baskets, and returning them empty.
Despite being caught on camera, Father Pantisano defended his actions by claiming he did not remember taking the money, suggesting that if he had done so, it may have been for “emergencies” such as buying food or helping the homeless. His defense was rejected by the court, with the prosecution arguing that his account was vague and unconvincing.
Father Pantisano’s lawyer, Tony Meisels, argued that his client had already faced severe consequences due to the case, including the loss of his position and income within the church. He revealed that the priest, who has been an employee of the church for 24 years, may no longer be able to practice and could face further disciplinary action from the Roman Catholic Church. He also highlighted the priest’s struggles with anxiety and depression, exacerbated by an earlier, undisclosed allegation made against him in 2018.
The Diocese of Westminster, which oversees the church, stated that there are strict protocols regarding church funds, and individual priests cannot access the money at their discretion. Robert Walker, the Director of Resources for the diocese, testified that Father Pantisano had no authority to take the collection money.
The scandal has caused a rift between the church and its parishioners, with Walker stating in his impact statement that the incident had eroded trust within the congregation. “It only takes one person to do something wrong to ruin the reputation of the rest,” he said.
Father Pantisano’s future within the Roman Catholic Church remains uncertain. He is currently residing at a convent, but the publicity surrounding the case has made it challenging for him to stay there. Additionally, the priest’s mental health has reportedly deteriorated as a result of the trial.
Despite the severity of the offense, Meisels argued that the theft was not at the top end of breaches of trust, noting that Father Pantisano had already lost much, including his career and reputation. However, the court’s decision underscores the high expectations placed on individuals in positions of religious authority, especially when handling church resources.
The Diocese of Westminster is now left to consider its next steps, while Father Pantisano’s future, both within the church and in the UK, remains in doubt.