Las Vegas Monsignor stole over $650,000 from his parishioners to feed his gambling habit

Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe, a Roman Catholic priest siphoned $650,000 from the bank accounts of his Las Vegas parish

One of the most senior churchmen in Las Vegas has admitted stealing over $650,000 from his parishioners to feed his gambling habit.

Monsignor Kevin McAuliffe faces up to 60 years in jail after confessing to raiding church funds to feed his addiction to video poker.

The 58-year-old, the second most senior churchman in Las Vegas Roman Catholic Diocese, kept his gambling secret from church leaders and his parishioners.

Over an eight year period he was able to steal $650,000 from a parish by siphoning off funds from its sale of votive candles, gift shop and church mission.

A court in Las Vegas heard that McAuliffe spent the money gambling mostly on video poker games.

He also used some of the stolen money to pay off debts on his personal credit cards.

The former vicar general for the Las Vegas Diocese and ranked second only to the bishop, pleaded guilty to three counts of mail fraud in federal court.

A court heard he was member of the diocese's finance committee and was responsible for compiling financial reports and had access to the church's bank accounts and cash in its safe.

In his plea agreement, McAuliffe said that between 2008 and 2010 he knowingly signed and submitted false financial statements in annual statements mailed each November to the Archdiocese in San Francisco, leading to the mail fraud charges.

McAuliffe, ranked second only tot he bishop, said he has a gambling addiction and stole from the church parishioners to fund his habit, as well as paying off some credit card debt

The U.S. attorney's office said McAuliffe hid the thefts by consistently under-reporting the church's income from St. Elizabeth's Parish.

St Elizabeth is one of the largest Catholic churches in Nevada with more than 10,000 families in its membership.

McAuliffe was placed on leave four months ago as investigators began probing the theft.

After his court appearance his lawyer Margaret Stanish issued a statement in which McAuliffe expressed his remorse.

'He has donated his life to serve his church and others,' she said.

'He, however, has a gambling addiction. He's so very remorseful for the hurt he has caused to all who are precious to him.'

Stanish added that McAuliffe knows he has parishioners down.

'He knows he let them down,' she said. 'Believe me, he knows he let them down.'

McAuliffe hid the thefts by consistently under-reporting the church's income from St. Elizabeth's Parish

Many of McAuliffe's parishioners were stunned by his admission of guilt.

'My heart still goes out to him. It's said that those who have no sin can cast the first stone,' said Gloria Devlin, who has attended St. Elizabeth's for nearly 20 years.

'Addiction is an illness. Sometimes we don't understand addictions, and it's easy just to say 'just quit.' But it's not that easy for people with an addiction.'

Julie Root, a parishioner of about four years, also said though she is shocked, learning McAuliffe has an addiction just makes her more sorrowful.

'It just makes him more human, very much like ourselves,' she said. 'It makes me a little bit sadder knowing that he was going through something like this.'