(Louisville, Ky.) – In September of 2014 during a regular audit at Holy Name Parish (2914 South Third Street, auditors of the Archdiocese discovered a possible theft at the parish by employee Lisa Roth. Holy Name and its clustered parish, St. Joseph (1406 East Washington Street), had been served by business manager Lisa Roth, who resigned her position at those parishes as the audit progressed. (St. Joseph and Holy Name are “clustered” parishes that share the same pastor and some staff.) It also was discovered that funds were missing from St. Joseph Parish. Ms. Roth began working at St. Joseph Parish in 2008 and at Holy Name Parish in 2011.
The Archdiocese immediately turned the issue over to the Louisville Metro Police Department. The police widened the investigation to include Holy Spirit Parish (3345 Lexington Road), where Ms. Roth served for several years beginning in 1998. Before the investigation was complete, however, Ms. Roth died (on July 6, 2015), and therefore a prosecution did not take place.
The Finance/Parish Councils of the parishes were informed about the investigation last spring. As part of parish accountability, letters are now being sent about this situation to all parishioners in the three parishes
The investigation revealed that approximately $110,000 was missing from Holy Name, $130,000 from St. Joseph Parish, and $275,000 from Holy Spirit Parish.
Archdiocese of Louisville
August 17, 2015
