A Catholic priest in Pennsylvania is facing some very serious allegations. And this is not exactly the kind of church fundraising story anyone wants to hear.
Gregory Allen Madeya, 69, of West Mifflin, has been accused of stealing more than $740K from churches and his elderly mother, according to prosecutors. The money allegedly went toward gay sexual encounters, vacations, and a lifestyle that apparently had very little to do with poverty, prayer, or financial responsibility.
According to prosecutors, nearly $320K was allegedly taken from three Pennsylvania churches. Another $250K reportedly came from Madeya’s elderly mother.
Yes, his own mother allegedly ended up on the list of people reaching for their wallets.
The allegations paint a troubling picture of money that was supposed to serve religious communities allegedly being used for personal expenses. And when church funds start disappearing into vacation plans, things can get awkward very quickly.
Prosecutors also allege that Madeya spent church and family money on sexual encounters with men. The allegations are particularly striking because of his position as a Catholic priest.
In total, prosecutors place the combined alleged theft from the three Western Pennsylvania churches, parishioners, donors, and his mom at $740,409.96, the outlet said.
The priest from hell is accused of using the cash — some of which he allegedly snatched from church collection envelopes — to buy heroin to exchange for sex acts with a man he’d meet at hotels, according to the outlet.
He allegedly also blew God’s dough on overseas vacations, cruise ship tours and a $35,500 Ford Mustang he gifted to the same man, who eventually moved in with him, according to prosecutors.
Investigators say Madeya withdrew $75,000 from the general fund of a church where he served as priest, The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in Derry Township, between 2021 and 2022.
He was suspended from the church in February 2024.
Madeya allegedly also stole from two other churches affiliated with Ukrainian Catholic churches in the nearby towns of McKeesport and Jeannette, prosecutors said.
Nothing says “unexpected expense” quite like allegedly turning church money into a personal vacation and dating budget.
During one of the thefts, he’s accused of snatching a $19,400 gold chalice from a church.
During a three-year probe, investigators allegedly found collection envelopes in his trash and photos of debit cards and bank documents on his personal devices, the AG’s office said.
“It is unconscionable to see a supposed man of God exploiting not only the churches he served, but his own mother,” Pennsylvania AG Dave Sunday said in a statement, noting that the elderly woman was “of the age when she could not manage her own finances.”
“This defendant abused the trust of those around him, and left them to recover from mammoth financial losses.”
Madeya was arrested in Vero Beach, Florida on Aug. 14 and was extradited back to Pennsylvania, according to The Latrobe Bulletin.
He was charged with theft, financial exploitation of an older adult and fraud.
His bail was set at $25,000 and he is due back in court next month.
Madeya has some serious explaining to do. A courtroom, rather than a church pew, may be where the next chapter of this bizarre financial saga unfolds.
