Published on: June 11, 2026, 11:23h.
Updated on: June 11, 2026, 11:23h.
- A Catholic priest faces allegations of embezzling funds from his parish for gambling purposes.
- Legal authorities claim that over $160,000 was redirected from church accounts into the priest’s personal accounts.
A priest in Kansas is under scrutiny for allegedly misappropriating $160,000 over four years, with a portion reportedly funding his gambling activities.
Father Richard Storey has been placed under house arrest with GPS monitoring since May, following charges of a fifth-degree felony in Johnson County for theft exceeding $100,000.
Recent court documents reveal allegations that Storey transferred approximately $160,000 from a bank account controlled by the Cure of Ars Catholic Church to his personal financial accounts.
An affidavit from the Leawood Police Department indicates that financial investigators traced these funds to confirm Storey’s use for unauthorized expenditures, including vacations, luxury items, and even a dental procedure classified as personal. Moreover, the affidavit noted Storey used the church credit card on one of these cruises, with a record of a “$24,000 casino cash withdrawal.”
Most cruise liners, upon reaching international waters, provide onboard casino gambling opportunities.
House of Vice
Storey has maintained a plea of not guilty. An additional investigation into $590,000 of potentially inappropriate church expenditures from 2021 to 2025 is also underway.
Prosecutors claim Storey charged church funds for trips to London, Paris, Dublin, and New York, with no evidence of activities related to the church.
The accusations specify Storey’s spending of $5,900 at retailers such as Jos. A. Bank and Nordstrom Rack, supplementing his personal Citibank credit card with over $25,000 charged to the church’s credit card.
“This situation is profoundly distressing for the entire Catholic community, especially considering the serious nature of these allegations involving resources entrusted to the Church by the faithful. These claims are severe, and we must respect the legal process, with Father Storey presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a court of law or an internal canonical review,” stated Archbishop Shawn McKnight.
McKnight emphasized the need for “patience, compassion, and mutual respect” as the church moves forward in addressing this situation.
What is the Catholic Church’s Stance on Gambling?
In contrast to some religions, Catholicism does not explicitly prohibit gambling, with activities like bingo nights commonplace in many parishes. However, gambling is deemed sinful when individuals risk funds essential for supporting their family, household, or parish.
“Gambling becomes a sin only when one overspends for amusement. A person in a casino that spends thousands, which their family depends on, is committing a sin—and the Church is unequivocal on this matter (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2413),” explains Catholic.com, a resource aimed at clarifying misconceptions about the Church.
“It would equally be wrong for someone to squander necessary funds on other forms of entertainment as well, including expensive books, films, or collectibles,” adds the resource.