From Richmond:

Banking experts say documentation from a church’s trustees or governing body — not just the signature of a clergyman — typically is required to open an account in a church’s name.

But in the Catholic Diocese of Richmond — where a retired pastor is charged with embezzling priests are empowered to open accounts in their church’s name, a diocesan lawyer says.

"A Catholic pastor can do that. He’s very much his own thing," said diocesan attorney William Etherington, adding that a parish’s pastoral and financial councils serve only advisory roles.

"He will routinely get a letter from the diocese saying he is the bishop’s agent for fiscal matters for the parish," Etherington said yesterday. "When he needs it, he takes it out of the file cabinet and shows it to the bank."