Catholic school principal stole $25K and used it on rent and vacation, PA officials say

The former principal of a Catholic school in Pennsylvania has been arrested after officials say he used $25,000 of school funds on personal expenses.

Police in Upper Duplin were contacted by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia in November regarding its internal investigation into the funds at Our Lady of Mercy Regional Catholic School in Maple Glen, according to the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office.

That investigation by the archdiocese showed John McGrath, the 56-year-old former principal at the school, “had been stealing school funds over a period of time.”

Police conducted their own investigation, finding McGrath had spent $25,436.54 on personal expenses, including a vacation and five rent payments, the district attorney said.

McGrath was placed on administrative leave from the school last fall, and it was later determined he would not return as principal, Archdiocese of Philadelphia spokesman Kenneth Gavin told WCAU.

Venmo was used for 11 of the transactions and a school credit card was used for an additional 76.

“Those charges were for restaurants, bars, DoorDash, Uber, hotel stays and purchases on Amazon for clothing and housewares, some of which were gifted to a teacher at the school,” according to the district attorney.

More than $3,500 was also used for what McGrath said was a conference in Washington, D.C., but he did not attend a conference, the district attorney said. Instead, McGrath took his brother and a teacher to D.C. and used school money to pay for sightseeing, museum admissions, dining and lodging, Philly Voice reported.

He collected $1,200 on his personal Venmo account from school families to purchase T-shirts for the school, but the money was never transferred to the school, officials said.

McGrath is charged with dealing in proceeds of unlawful activity, receiving stolen property, access fraud, unsworn falsification to authorities and multiple theft charges. He was released from jail on a $50,000 bail, the district attorney said.

Gavin told WCAU the school will continue to work with officials during the court proceedings, referring to McGrath’s charges as “serious and disturbing.”