The pillowcase the Windsor priest occasionally carried to his room stood out: it was tie-dyed pink and purple, and stuffed with cash

The pillowcase that the priest occasionally carried off to his room stood out because it was tie-dyed pink and purple, but also because it was full of cash.

Prosecution witnesses in the trial of former priest Robert Couture said Wednesday they remember thinking it was unusual the way he handled money from collection plates and other sources at Ste. Anne Parish in Tecumseh.

“I specifically remember on some occasions Robert Couture entering into the safe to retrieve collections, certainly with a pillowcase,” said Rev. Dennis Bedard, who was an associate pastor at Ste. Anne and lived with Couture for a year and a half.

Couture is on trial for one count of theft over $5,000. He allegedly pocketed money from donation plates, candle boxes, wedding and funeral fees and what a prosecutor called a “bogus” church bank account.  (more...)

The pillowcase the Windsor priest occasionally carried to his room stood out: it was tie-dyed pink and purple, and stuffed with cash

Background:

Tecumseh Catholic priest Robert Couture stole more than $180,000 from his church to fund lavish lifestyle, Crown alleges