Former Priest at Curé of Ars Catholic Church Pleads Guilty to Theft

A former priest at Curé of Ars Catholic Church has pleaded guilty to theft, admitting to misusing church funds for personal expenses. The plea, entered in Johnson County District Court, involves a charge of stealing between $25,000 and $100,000 from the parish. The Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas confirmed the guilty plea, noting that the amount involved exceeds $100,000, which is classified as a severity level 7, non-person, non-drug felony.

As part of the plea agreement, Father Richard Storey has paid restitution totaling $159,362.92 to Curé of Ars Parish. Archbishop Shawn McKnight expressed deep sorrow over the matter and urged the faithful to pray for those affected. The archdiocese emphasized its commitment to responsible stewardship and due diligence, including the hiring of an independent firm in July to review its financial processes.

Father Storey resigned from the church in September 2025 after the Prairie Village Police Department investigated a separate charge against him. The archdiocese announced it will now conduct a preliminary canonical investigation into all allegations involving Storey, including the financial matter and an allegation involving an adult victim.

The findings of the investigation will be reviewed by the Archdiocesan Finance Council Audit Committee. The committee will then present its assessment to the Promoter of Justice, who will recommend any further canonical action to Archbishop McKnight. He will ultimately decide on subsequent measures.

The archdiocese has also provided contact information for those with information about crimes, encouraging them to reach out to local police or the Crime Stoppers hotline if they wish to remain anonymous. Additional resources, including homicide data and mug shot policies, are available through KSHB 41 News.

Source: Read the original report