“Thou shalt not steal” – Exodus 20:15.

A Catholic priest from West London has received a suspended prison sentence for stealing from his church’s donation plates. Fr Fortunato Pantisano, 44, was caught on CCTV at Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Fulham taking approximately £200 from the congregation’s offerings earlier this year.

Despite pleading not guilty to theft by an employee, Pantisano was convicted following a trial at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last month. On Tuesday, he was sentenced to 20 weeks in prison, suspended for 18 months.

District Judge Daniel Sternberg, who presided over the case, ordered the priest to pay £200 in compensation along with £800 in court costs. The judge emphasized that Pantisano’s actions were of “high culpability” due to the significant trust placed in him by the church.

The court was told that Pantisano was suspended from his duties at the time of the theft. Despite his conviction, he continued to deny the charge, as detailed in his pre-sentence report.

Judge Sternberg also noted that it was unlikely Pantisano would ever be permitted to practise as a priest again. The cleric had led the Fulham congregation for over a decade prior to the incident.

Source: PREMIER CHRISTIAN NEWS – UK