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09th Jul 2013

Money Matters: Gambling New York Nun Stole $128,000 to Feed Addiction

There's going to be a serious amount of praying to be done...

Una Kavanagh

Looks like this nun will have a lot of Hail Marys to say!

A Roman Catholic nun has been sentenced to 90 days in jail after stealing $128,000 from two parishes in New York to support her gambling addiction.

Sister Mary Anne Rapp pleaded guilty to grand larceny in Orleans County Court back in April of this year. 

She admitted to stealing the money from St. Mary’s Church in Holley and St. Mark’s Church in Kendall from 2006 to 2011. Her theft was discovered during an audit by Father Mark Noonan who took over the pastor in 2010.

The 68 year old nun was also told that she was to do 100 hours worth of community service and repay the entire $128,000.

Sister Rapp spent the pilfered money gambling in western New York casinos.

“It’s sad when anybody has to be prosecuted but particularly a nun,” said Orleans County District Attorney Joseph Cardone. 

“As you know, people place a lot of faith in her and turn to her for their own problems at times so it just is unfortunate and it shows that anybody can be involved in some type of criminal behavior.”

The sister was placed on leave from her order and agreed to seek treatment for her addiction.

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