Mich. priest removed from church bought Fla. condo

TROY, Mich. (AP) — A Detroit-area priest removed from his parish over church finances paid $500,000 for a four-bedroom condominium in Florida.

The Detroit Free Press (http://on.freep.com/14uOXB5) reports that the Rev. Edward Belczak purchased the property in 2005 from Michael and Janice Verschuren. Janice Verschuren was the administrator at his parish, St. Thomas More in Troy.

Belczak was removed from St. Thomas More last week while the Detroit Catholic Archdiocese investigates how he handled more than $400,000 over six years. Archdiocese spokesman Ned McGrath says Verschuren also is no longer at the church.

McGrath says officials are aware of Belczak's condo in Wellington, Fla. He says there are no restrictions on priests owning real estate, although priests typically are paid less than $40,000 a year.