A member of the accounting staff at the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis has been fired after an internal investigation found potentially illegal financial transactions.

According to a statement by the archdiocese on Wednesday, staff members recently found irregularities related to documentation of credit card transactions.

The archdiocese conducted a preliminary investigation, but after additional evidence was uncovered, the employee, who has not been identified, was dismissed and police were contacted.

"This matter will not affect the archdiocese's ability to meet its financial obligations or other responsibilities, including those to parishes, schools and employees," the archdiocese said. "Furthermore, we are confident that insurance will cover substantially all of the loss."

NICOLE NORFLEET