A Malagasy priest, who had been stationed for a year and a half in a small village in Haute-Loire, France, is suspected of having disappeared with money from church collections, according to an article published on Thursday by Le Parisien.
Having left for vacation in his home country in March, he never returned to his post. The Diocese of Le Puy-en-Velay estimates that several thousand euros, between 3,000 and 6,000, were discreetly stolen from the collection baskets. Parishioners had noticed that banknotes were disappearing, leaving only coins behind.
Alerted to the situation, the bishop summoned the priest, who denied the allegations but provided no explanation. Shortly after, the priest flew to Madagascar and has not been heard from since. The diocese has relieved him of his duties, but no formal complaint has been filed. Authorities deemed the legal process too costly and complicated to pursue against a man who is now outside the territory.
The news has shocked the local residents. The mayor criticized the fact that the church continues to be funded by the community, even as the parishioners’ money has evaporated. The bishop acknowledged that the management of cash collections remains vulnerable and prone to embezzlement.
Gustave Mparany
Captured & Published at: 2026-07-04 07:43:15 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/07/france-un-pretre-malgache-part-avec-la.html