The National Herald
TNH
EXCLUSIVE: Passias’ Mistress Took 30K
from St. Spyridon; Archdiocesan
Chancellor Wants an Explanation or Parish Will
Go to the Police
·
"Unless this issue is
resolved, the Parish Council will have no option other than to report it to the
authorities," Bishop Andonios writes.
NEW YORK – Ethel Bouzalas, the
woman identified as the mistress of Fr. George
Passias according to various sources, including a videotape of their affair,
and which resulted in the Archdiocese banning Passias, who was the priest at
the St. Spyridon Church in the Upper Manhattan neighborhood of Washington
Heights, from pastoral duties, took $30,000 from the parish before she left,
according to documents obtained by The National Herald.
Bishop Andonios of Phasiane, the
Archdiocesan Chancellor, emailed Bouzalas urging her to return the money or
else the parish will report her to the police.
“On Thursday evening [Oct. 8],”
Bishop Andonios wrote, “I had the opportunity to meet with the members of the
Parish Council and was informed that you voluntarily
told [Parish Council President] Steve [Papadatos] that you took $30,000 in cash, which you felt you were
entitled to since it represented funds which you
and your husband had given the School to cover expenses.
“Ethel, if indeed these funds were
‘lent’ to the School, then I will be the first to pressure the community to
repay you, but before doing so, I need to ask that some backup documentation
please be presented. Otherwise, there are those who will accuse you of stealing these funds, which will
only compound what has already appeared in the
press.
Clearly, this was not your
intent since of your own volition you shared
that you had taken the monies.
Moreover, in my office you stated
that of all the accusations (including misuse of funds) that had been made,
only the one about your relationship with Father [Passias] was true.”
Andonios also wrote that “I am
sure you appreciate that the Parish
Council has a fiduciary responsibility and unless this issue is resolved, they
will have no option other than to report it to the authorities. Let’s please
try to resolve this amicably and before it goes any further.”
Andonios also recommended that
Bouzalas seek help and offered the Archdiocese to assume the cost: “We would
urge you to seek immediate professional help and, if you wish, we can assist you with locating a counselor and
covering the cost. We also strongly encourage you to seek spiritual counseling
and are here to help with that as soon as you
are ready. In the meanwhile, I will keep you in my prayers.
May our loving Lord bless and
lift you up during this most
difficult time in your life.”
Papadatos told TNH last week
that there are no financial improprieties at St. Spyridon. Bouzalas did not
respond to TNH’s request for comment
1 comment
I am appalled to say the least by
the statement of the Archdiocesan chancellor. “The parish will report her to
the police”.
I would like to ask him,what
did he do with the situation in Salt Lake City
when he received a folder
with the proof that the
priests were abusing the benevolent fund??
Did he call the police? Did he urge the parish council to do so?
NO….
Instead,he put it under the carpet.
He used the
“αγραφο νομο”,never go against your own.
Salt Lake is waiting your Eminence,for justice!
Too many people talk the talk,
but very few actually walk the walk…practice what you preach; Action speaks louder than words.
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