BBC NEWS | Americas | US priests 'in $800,000 theft'

BBC NEWS | Americas | US priests 'in $800,000 theft': "Two Roman Catholic priests have been accused of stealing $800,000 from the collection plate of their church in the US state of Florida.

They allegedly planned to spend the money on property, holidays, gambling and to meet the expenses of mistresses.

One of the priests, Fr John Skelan has admitted the charges, but his colleague Fr Francis Guinan denies them.

US law - the statute of limitations - prevents the priests being charged with thefts that occurred before 2001.

But the auditors say that up to $8m might have disappeared over a period of 20 years."