LOCAL NEWS

Statement of Holy Cross Parish and the Diocese of Phoenix

Re: A settlement with Fr. Dennis Riccitelli

July 2008

The Diocese of Phoenix has settled a civil lawsuit that it filed in Maricopa County Superior Court against Fr. Dennis Riccitelli to recover funds it believes were used in an inappropriate manner by Fr. Riccitelli when he served as pastor at Holy Cross Parish in Mesa between 1996 and 2003. According to the terms of the settlement, Fr. Riccitelli has agreed to transfer cash and properties to the parish that are valued at approximately $508,000 in return for a dismissal of the civil lawsuit.

In light of the separate criminal proceedings that are presently pending against Fr. Riccitelli, the diocese will not provide any further details regarding the settlement or the civil lawsuit at this time. Consistent with its normal procedures, the diocese will continue to cooperate with authorities in their criminal investigation of Fr. Riccitelli, and the diocese will not take any action to compromise the integrity of that judicial process. 

Fr. Riccitelli remains on administrative leave while the criminal proceedings are pending against him. 

The Diocese of Phoenix is committed to the proper stewardship of the financial gifts that are given to the Church and takes seriously its responsibility to parishioners and others to ensure that such funds are used in an appropriate manner.  In an effort to prevent the misappropriation of parish funds, the diocesan Finance Office has instituted a fraud reporting procedure that is accessible through the diocesan Web site at www.diocesephoenix.org. As part of that procedure, the Diocese of Phoenix maintains a fraud hotline number, which is (602) 354-2022.