CHARLOTTE — A Religious Liberty March and Prayer Vigil was held in Charlotte to mark the opening of the U.S. bishops' fifth annual Fortnight for Freedom June 21, the vigil of the feast of Sts. Thomas More and John Fisher.
Marchers processed from the Diocese of Charlotte Pastoral Center to Independence Square in uptown Charlotte, then to the Charles R. Jonas Federal Building, where they prayed the Litany for Religious Liberty, the rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
This year's campaign, "Witness to Freedom," celebrates exemplary witnesses to religious freedom. Online at www.Fortnight4Freedom.org, find USCCB resources including prayers, fact sheets, information about religious liberty, and information about the lives of Christian witness of women and men of faith, from all over the world.
The 14-day observance of the Fortnight for Freedom, which closes on Independence Day, July 4, is a call by the U.S. bishops for all Catholics in our nation to pray, learn and get involved in peaceful public action to protect the right to religious liberty, "Our First, Most Cherished Liberty."
— Photos by Travis Burton, T O Squared Photography | Catholic News Herald
CHARLOTTE — The former principal of Charlotte Catholic High School who pleaded guilty to one felony count of misappropriating more than $160,000 from the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation and, also, certain school accounts has been sentenced to 24 months probation and must spend three months in a halfway house. He will also be required to make restitution.
Gerald Healy appeared April 19 before U.S. Chief Judge Frank D. Whitney. During a sentencing hearing at the federal courthouse in Charlotte that lasted less than 60 minutes, Healy was sentenced for mishandling funds from the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation a non-profit that operates separately from the school, using checks drawn out of a Bank of America account from April 2007 to February 2014 to pay for personal expenses.
According to the U.S. attorney's charges, Healy "misappropriated both the School's and the Foundation's money for his personal use ... by writing or having his assistant write checks to him. On at least four occasions, Healy forged the name of his assistant on Foundation checks made payable to himself."
Healy resigned as principal on May 20, 2014, following a separate audit of school finances by the Diocese of Charlotte that uncovered unspecified "questionable disbursements" from high school accounts.
Specifics were not disclosed at the time, but a June 17, 2014, letter from the Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation, an independent fundraising organization that provides scholarships and supplies for the high school, said Healy had been "making personal use of funds held by the foundation."
Healy's attorneys had insisted that the foundation had no written procedures for use of the funds in the account, and that the money had been used to help members of the Charlotte Catholic High School community.
In the plea hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Zolot said Healy "has been completely cooperative" throughout the federal investigation that followed the audit of the funds. In the sentencing hearing Zolot explained the government's position on recommending probation was due to the consideration that Healy had "spent a lifetime of doing good things for students" and "the amount of impact he's had on people's lives can't be quantified."
Healy could have faced up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Healy read a statement to the court before the sentence was handed down, saying, "I stand before you as a man who let people down... I am truly sorry for letting people down... I hope to regain the trust of the community... Charlotte Catholic High School is and always will be special to me. I can't begin to repay them for all the good they have done for me. I am truly sorry."
The Charlotte Catholic High School Foundation is an independent organization which is not managed, administered or controlled by the diocese. The investigation of the foundation's finances had no impact on the school's education program or tuition accounts, noted David Hains, diocesan director of communication.
Kurt Telford, principal at Charlotte Catholic High School, sent out a communication to the parents of students, saying, "This morning Mr. Healy was sentenced in federal court. I ask that you continue to pray for him and his family. Charlotte Catholic continues its focus on a well-rounded faith based education with an emphasis on academic excellence and this focus is evidenced in many ways."
Telford cited the school's recent accomplishments including two Division 4A State Championships for varsity men's football and basketball.
"I thank each one of you for your part in the success of Charlotte Catholic. As a school community we can be proud of our many accomplishments," he told the school community.
Charlotte Catholic was founded in 1955.
— Patricia L. Guilfoyle, editor. SueAnn Howell, senior reporter, contributed to this article.