Episcopal Parish in Tonawanda to Secede

St. Bartholomew's Episcopal parish in Tonawanda plans to break away from its diocese and leave itss current facilities after 48 years. It would become the first local congregation to break ties since the controversial ratification of an openly gay bishop by the U.S Episcopal province in 2003.

Church Worker Convicted

Church business manager Randall Kozlowski, who pled guilty to stealing 400-thousand-dollars from Our Lady Help of Christians, was sentenced in State Supreme Court to a year in jail, and must also make restitution. The 49-year-old Kozlowski says he used the money to pay gambling debts.

Church Worker Convicted

A former business officer at St. Andrew's Catholic Church on Sheridan Drive has pleaded guilty to stealing some 280-thousand dollars over the last six years from the church. Sixty-one-year-old Bonnie Radigan gave the court a check for 21-thousand dollars and was told that her sentencing depended on how much more restitution she could come up with. Radigan says she stole the money to pay medical bills and for tuition for her children. She is the fifth church worker to admit to stealing in the past five years.