At that time (in 2004), discussions were had with some members of the board and Father Smyth. Those people who discussed it said (to Smyth), 'You're certainly worth more than (the standard priest's salary of about $20,000 a year), and we should be getting the value of your services.

Father Smyth said, 'No, I would just turn it over to Maryville anyway.' Somebody then came up with the idea of 'Well, let's at least charge the added value (to the state). It would be a charge of more than his salary. It sounded legitimate to me. ... I'm not trying to defend what we did. But there was no wrongdoing.

I was married for 20 years, and now I'm nervous.