SIMI VALLEY : Archdiocese Fights Financial Subpoenas

The Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles sent an attorney to Ventura County on Friday to fend off subpoenas of its financial records filed in the embezzlement case of a former assistant pastor, Father David Dean Piroli.

Attorney David Callahan said the archdiocese believes the subpoenas filed by Piroli’s attorney intrude on the privacy of Piroli’s former parishioners at Sacred Heart Church in Saticoy and St. Peter Claver Church in Simi Valley.

Callahan said that Piroli should not be able to reveal in open court the names and addresses of parishioners who donated money to the churches.

But Callahan added: “David Piroli has a right to a fair trial, and if (he) can particularize a need for certain documents, then we’ll make them available.”

Piroli, 36, was indicted on two counts of felony grand theft by embezzlement for allegedly stealing nearly $60,000 in collection money from the churches.

Richard Beada, the priest’s attorney, said records he subpoenaed, dating back to 1986 when Piroli was assigned to Sacred Heart, may point to culpability on the part of other church members who handled the collections.

He added: “I think it will be revealed that a lot of the participants in this case are not the fine, upstanding people we expect them to be.” Archdiocesan officials removed Piroli from his post at St. Peter Claver last summer when he disappeared for several weeks following his May arrest in Hollywood. Police there found him in the church car with a small amount of cocaine, $10,000 cash, and collection envelopes.

Approximately $50,000, including parishioners’ donation checks, was later found in his room at the rectory. Piroli remains free on $100,000 bond, posted by parishioners who support him.

Piroli appeared in Ventura County Superior Court on Friday, wearing his priest’s collar. He said he is still working as a priest, but refused to explain.

Monsignor John Rohde, who oversees parishes in Ventura County, said Piroli is not allowed to perform any public duties while he is suspended, pending the outcome of his criminal case.

“He could always say Mass privately,” Rohde said Friday. “But he would not be allowed to do publicly what priests do.”