A Pennsylvania priest’s descent into gaming addiction led him to embezzle $40,000 from his parish, fueling a digital binge on Candy Crush and Mario Kart.
At a Glance
- Father Lawrence Kozak stole $40,000 from parish funds to fuel his gaming habit
- He was sentenced to community service and ordered to repay the money
- Kozak blamed COVID stress, personal loss, and a leg amputation
- He was placed on leave and permanently banned from financial duties
Gaming, Grief, and Theft: A Pastor’s Collapse
Father Lawrence Kozak, once the respected pastor of St. Thomas More Church in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, shocked parishioners when it was revealed he had embezzled over $40,000 to support a mobile gaming addiction. As reported by the Daily Mail, Kozak used the parish credit card to buy in-game bonuses for titles like Candy Crush and Super Mario Kart, as well as gifts for his niece.
An internal audit in 2022 first uncovered discrepancies, which prompted a full review. Kozak initially denied the allegations but later confessed, citing emotional distress and poor judgment. The former pastor ultimately admitted to the theft, stating that he was “deeply sorry for the pain and difficulty that was caused to the parishioners of St Thomas More.”
Watch Daily Mail’s report on the incident at Catholic priest’s Super Mario Kart scandal.
Courtroom Contrition and Consequences
In court, Kozak detailed a series of personal struggles, including the death of his father, the trauma of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a debilitating leg amputation following a 2016 car crash. Despite these hardships, the court found him guilty of financial misconduct. Kozak was sentenced to 80 hours of community service, ordered to issue a formal apology, and required to repay the full amount he stole.
He also lost his financial privileges within the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and is currently on administrative leave. As part of the Archdiocese’s disciplinary action, he is now facing a canonical investigation. A church spokesperson confirmed to the Daily Mail that “Father Kozak was placed on administrative leave by Archbishop Pérez in November of 2022” and has not held any ministerial assignment since.
Fallout and Calls for Reform
The Kozak case has reignited concerns about financial oversight in the Catholic Church. Critics, including the lay group Catholics4Change, questioned how Kozak—despite prior personal challenges—was promoted to pastor shortly before the scandal emerged. The Archdiocese admitted it took disciplinary steps only after the accounting discrepancies were confirmed.
This incident has prompted renewed demands for transparency and accountability in how parishes manage funds. While Kozak’s personal failings were clear, many parishioners argue that systemic issues enabled his misconduct to go unchecked for too long.
Church officials are now re-evaluating internal audit procedures and clerical financial access to prevent future abuses. As Kozak himself said in his apology, “No matter what, I should have been more attentive, and in that sense I truly failed.”
