CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. (AP) – Church officials in Chippewa Falls
are heartbroken after a thief made off with thousands of dollars,
some of it intended for an orphanage in Peru.
     Father William Felix says the money was collected during six
Christmas services at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Chippewa
Falls.
     He says he was “sickened” by the theft, discovered Monday. He
says whoever the thieves are, he can’t imagine they would want to
face God at this point.
     Felix says the collection was taken sometime Sunday afternoon or
early Monday. He says it was safeguarded in its normal location,
and nothing else was disturbed.
     The church is mailing letters to all church members so they can
cancel checks or protect their account information as necessary.
     Police say it’s too early to release any information.