Former Onalaska Catholic church secretary gets four years in prison for theft of more than $800,000

MADISON — A former Onalaska church secretary who stole more than $800,000 from collection plates during a nine-year period was sentenced Thursday in federal court to four years in prison and ordered to repay St. Patrick’s Catholic Church.

Barbara L. Snyder, 60, did not offer remorse or an explanation in court for the offense, which Onalaska Mayor Joe Chilsen, who is also a member of the church’s finance council, said was “probably the biggest tragedy.”

“She never said she was sorry,” Chilsen said after the sentencing.

St. Patrick’s Pastor Steven Kachel told District Judge James Peterson that Snyder’s embezzlement took hard-earned contributions from the parish’s 1,800 families that were intended to help the needy and fund the parish’s school.

“You betrayed them with your selfishness and greed. Their sacrifices were used for your worldly pleasures. You stole from God, the building of his kingdom,” Kachel said.

continue at La Crosse Tribune

Just awful.  This is a very active parish.