BRONSON, MI (WTVB) -The Diocese of Kalamazoo informed the parish communities of St. Mary Assumption in Bronson and St. Barbara Parish in Colon during masses this weekend that they had accepted the resignation of the Reverend Richard Fritz as pastor and have temporarily suspended his ability to exercise public ministry.
The action was taken against the 69-year-old Fritz after an independent accounting firm at the request of the Diocese completed a forensic audit of both St. Mary’s and St. Barbara’s which according to a press release from the Diocese, details questionable financial transactions and practices from 2010 until 2016.
Father Fritz will no longer reside at the rectory. The Very Reverend Mark Vyverman, who is the Dean of the Eastern Deanery and pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Coldwater and Our Lady of Fatima in Union City will assume the role of pastor of St. Mary’s Assumption Parish.
The Diocese says they began its internal review of the matter after suspected irregularities were reported last spring.
Fritz’s access to parish funds was removed in June after the diocese says irregularities were established.
The alleged financial mismanagement of the parish funds of St. Mary Assumption, Bronson and St. Barbara, Colon, relates to suspected inappropriate checks distributed for six years starting in 2010.
The Diocese says they are reviewing financial records of both parishes prior to 2010 to identify additional potential losses.
The Michigan State Police Department is currently conducting its own investigation.
