Jesuit Finance Director Agrees to Repay $8.8M in Stolen Funds

Barry Leidl, who spent more than 30 years managing finances for the Jesuits of Canada, has agreed to a multimillion-dollar civil settlement for embezzlement.

The former finance director consented to an $8.8-million judgment in late April, according to court documents obtained by reporters. The settlement includes $6.5 million in damages, $1.27 million in interest, and $990,000 in legal fees. The embezzlement allegations date back to at least 2010.

Leidl first began working for the Jesuits in 1991 as assistant treasurer. He became director of advancement in 2017 and was promoted to director of finance in 2022, a position he held until his retirement in November 2024. Before his retirement, he reportedly told colleagues: "The treasury is not really operative when I'm not around."

Leidl did not file a defence in the civil suit, and neither he nor his lawyers responded to a reporter comment. In court filings, the Jesuits say they "trusted" Leidl and "relied on him to fulfill his duties with integrity, honesty and loyalty." No criminal charges have been filed.

The Society of Jesus is an order of Catholic priests and brothers whose history in Canada dates to the 17th century. Today, their ministries include several schools, colleges, churches, First Nations initiatives in northern Ontario, and the development agency Canadian Jesuits International.

Donna Modeste, a retired Catholic teacher and administrator in Bowmanville, Ont., who donates to the Jesuits yearly, described feeling "absolute shock" when she learned of the allegations. "It's morally and ethically unbelievable, to be honest," she said. "To be so intimately involved with the Jesuit organization, and to be part of everything they did and advocate for them — and then to turn around and betray them to such a degree is really unfathomable."

Modeste hopes a criminal investigation will follow. In a statement, Jesuits Canada said it is "grateful for the generosity of those who entrust us with donations" and has since implemented additional safeguards to prevent similar incidents.