Bath, PA--A study by Villanova University professor Robert West has revealed that 85% of U.S. dioceses have reported embezzlement over the past 5 years.

Bath, PA -- A study by Villanova University professor Robert West has revealed that 85% of U.S. dioceses have reported embezzlement over the past 5 years. In 11% of the dioceses surveyed at least $500,000 was stolen (a minimum dollar figure of $4.3 million).

The revelations were prompted by a case in Bath where a parishioner, the town's mayor, altered collection tally sheets in order to pocket the difference. While dishonest employees and volunteers are part of the problem, Prof. West also notes that while "Bishops' conferences provide ... internal controls, they lack any enforcement mechanism," i.e. external auditors. Underlying this is the fact that "in faith-based organizations ... we assume people are honest, so we don't put in the controls a business would."