A former Kansas pastor is facing serious criminal allegations after an investigation uncovered what authorities describe as extensive misuse of parish funds over several years.
Father Richard Storey, who served at Curé of Ars Catholic Church in Leawood, Kansas, has been accused of improperly spending approximately $159,326.92 in church funds between 2021 and 2025, according to court records cited by the Daily Mail.
The allegations emerged following a financial review conducted by the Archdiocese of Kansas City after concerns were raised about parish expenditures. According to the Daily Mail, auditors identified numerous charges on a church credit card that investigators believe were unrelated to parish ministry or approved church business.
Among the most significant expenditures were more than $77,000 allegedly spent on cruises. Court records cited by the Daily Mail state that one cruise-related transaction included a cash withdrawal of nearly $24,000 that was reportedly labeled as “casino cash withdraw” on a credit card statement.
Investigators also allege that church funds were used to finance personal travel, including trips to London, Paris, Dublin, and New York. According to the affidavit cited by the Daily Mail, these travel expenses totaled more than $27,000.
“Church officials stated that this was a gross misuse of church funds, and Storey would have known that these expenses were not to be covered by church funds,” the affidavit reportedly states, according to the Daily Mail.
Additional expenditures cited in the investigation reportedly included medical, wellness, dental, and retail purchases. Investigators found nearly $11,700 in medical-related expenses, more than $4,400 in dental costs, and approximately $5,900 in purchases from retailers including Nordstrom Rack, according to court documents referenced by the Daily Mail.
One unusual finding involved more than $22,000 in purported donations made to the parish using the church’s own credit card. According to the affidavit, the transactions appeared to inflate fundraising totals without bringing any new funds into the parish.
“Because these funds came from the church credit card instead of being made as a personal donation, the transaction did not result in any net financial benefit to the church,” investigators wrote, according to the Daily Mail.
The Archdiocese of Kansas City was first notified in September 2025 that the Prairie Village Police Department was investigating Storey and another adult regarding financial matters, according to a statement from the archdiocese cited by the Daily Mail. Storey subsequently resigned from his position, and an internal review was launched.
Archbishop Shawn McKnight expressed concern for parishioners affected by the allegations.
“This news is deeply painful for all of us in the Catholic community, particularly given the nature of the allegations involving resources entrusted to the church through the sacrifice and generosity of the faithful,” McKnight said in a statement cited by the Daily Mail.
The archbishop emphasized that the allegations remain accusations and that due process must be respected.
“These allegations are serious, the legal processes must be allowed to proceed, and Father Storey is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law or internal canonical process,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.
For many Catholics, the case serves as a painful reminder of the importance of financial transparency, accountability, and faithful stewardship within the Church. While civil authorities continue their investigation, Church leaders have stated that new financial protocols have been implemented at the parish.
According to the Daily Mail, Father Storey declined to provide a statement to investigators. He is currently free on bond and is scheduled to return to court on July 15.
As the legal process unfolds, Catholics are called to pray for everyone affected—including parishioners, parish staff, Church leadership, and all those seeking the truth—while remembering the distinction between the failures of individuals and the enduring mission of Christ’s Church.
