Gambling priest's guilty plea spurs prayers

WHITE PLAINS - Parishioners at Our Lady of Sorrows Church on Wednesday responded with promises of prayer the day after their former pastor, the Rev. Patrick Dunne, admitted to gambling away $432,000 in church funds.

"All of us do not have the necessary graces to ward off advances of the devil," said Ted Gaskin, an 84-year-old World War II veteran from Scarsdale. "We need to constantly pray so the devil does not take hold of us."

Dunne, 65, pleaded guilty Tuesday in Westchester County Court to committing second-degree grand larceny, a felony. In exchange for his plea, he will serve no more than six months in the county jail.

He had been facing up to 15 years in state prison before the plea. Dunne, who is being treated for a gambling addiction, also will have to perform community service and repay the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York's insurance company, which reimbursed the Mamaroneck Avenue church for the missing funds.

Dunne was not mentioned during Our Lady of Sorrows Church's 9 a.m. service Wednesday. Gaskin, who attended the Mass, said Dunne fell victim to sin, proving that no one is immune to temptation. "There but for the grace of God go I," Gaskin said, adding that he harbored no ill will toward Dunne. "Underneath it all, he's a very lovely man. I will always love him."

His sentiments were echoed by Patty Martin, a stay-at-home mother of four from White Plains, who said she felt sorry for Dunne and would keep him in her prayers. "It's sad - sad for anybody," she said. "We were all hurt by what happened.

We're all healing." Martin, who has attended Mass at Our Lady of Sorrows Church for 18 years, said Dunne made the right decision by admitting his guilt. "I think he needed to do exactly what he did," she said. "It's nice to have it all come to an end."

Dunne will be sentenced Jan. 12. He remains free on bail.