Philadelphia priest arrested for stealing over $98,000 from church donations. The priest allegedly used the money to pay men he met on Grindr, a dating app.

The police are investigating Joseph McLoone, a former priest at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Downingtown, Pennsylvania.

Investigating officers of the Chester County started investigating Joseph McLoone over a year ago after they were alerted about suspicious activities.

56-year-old Joseph McLoone was a priest at the St. Joseph Catholic Church since 2010.

Reports suggest he opened a secret checking account in 2011 that he used for diverting donations. He then used the money to pay for his traveling expenses, a beach home in Ocean City, New Jersey, dinners, and men who he met on an online dating app.

According to the Philadelphia Magazine, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia did their own investigation in 2017 after they started to notice some funds were missing.

McLoone was asked by the Archdiocese about the missing funds. It is reported that McLoone admitted that he used the money for his “personal relationships” with other men.

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It is reported that McLoone spent the money on men that he met on Grindr, the priest sent thousands of dollars to the men by using J-Pay and Square.

According to a report by Inquirer, the priest sent over $3,000 to men he had sexual relationships with.

It is reported that McLoone had a sexual relationship with an inmate in New York.

The 56-year-old priest is currently facing felony theft and related charges.

Charles Gaza, the District Attorney Chief of Staff, released a statement about the incident.

Gaza said, “Father McLoone held a position of leadership, and his parishioners trusted him to properly handle their generous donations to the church. Father McLoone violated the trust of the members of St. Joseph’s for his own personal gain.”

McLoone stole money that was donated by people for funerals, weddings, and donations that were made to honor their deceased loved ones.

Father McLoone set up a private account that had the name of “The St. Joseph Activity Account”.

He opened the account without asking the Archdiocese.

McLoone managed to do all these as he was the pastor of the church.