Monday, June 11, 2018

Father Jonathan Wehrle desperately needs your help right now! Our organization is assisting Father
Wehrle in defending his innocence and preserving his outstanding reputation. Since 2002, we have
assisted thousands of priests who have experienced the awful horror of being accused.

As you may know, Father Wehrle has been accused and criminally charged for embezzling more
than $5 million from the beloved parish he founded. Father Wehrle has denied embezzling anything
from anyone and is headed for trial.

Since criminal charges were filed against Father Wehrle in May 2017, the insurance company for the
Diocese of Lansing has filed a civil lawsuit against him. Now facing a two-front battle, Father Wehrle’s
case has suddenly become even more complex, which requires immediate critical support with a huge
amount of legal, accounting and investigative resources.

Thankfully, based on our sixteen years of experience in facilitating assistance for priests needing
criminal defense, we were able to suggest that Fr. Wehrle hire a white-collar defense team
experienced at handling the kind of two-track litigation that he is currently facing. Butzel Long’s team
has an array of resources that can be brought to bear on Father’s case.

Trial is just around the corner. Fr. Wehrle needs the experience and resources Butzel’s team can
provide. We are confident they understand the uniqueness of working with priests. Defending a priest
is like no other criminal case, and defending such a case as Father Wehrle now finds himself in, is that
much more dramatic.

For Father Wehrle, this is quite literally an apocalyptic moment. The prosecutor has frozen all of his
assets, taking every cent he and his mother had in their bank accounts, savings and retirement and
leaving him penniless. He is unable to pay his legal team for a competent defense, and is now faced
with the horrifying reality that, without the best defense possible, he will live the remainder of his
years in state prison. Father Wehrle gets one chance at this; if he does not raise the cost of the legal
fees now, he will lose his opportunity for justice, and for his freedom.

As is typical of the good Father Wehrle, he doesn’t want to cause undue stress or financial burden
on anyone, with the overwhelming cost for his legal defense, especially those he loves – YOU! In fact,
Father Wehrle would take this enormous financial burden on himself, but he can no longer do so.

Opus Bono Sacerdotii

“Work for the Good of the Priesthood”
5137 Dryden Road, PO Box 251, Dryden, MI 48428 P: 866.425.4692
www.opusbono.org
 Father Wehrle is in dire need for your help at this time. He is completely responsible for his own
legal fees. Bishop Boyea will not fund his defense.

For Father Wehrle, the costs for attorney fees, court fees, expert witnesses, administrative support,
document generation, filing, forensic auditing, investigations, etc. is staggering. We are contacting you
because of Father Wehrle’s deep admiration for you, and because frankly, I have “twisted his arm” to
give me a short list of family and friends. He is too embarrassed and humiliated to ask you directly for
help, so we have volunteered to help raise the necessary funds for his legal defense.

Will you join me in helping save Father Wehrle’s freedom? The cost to fund his legal defense is
estimated to be $300,000, which includes the fees for the attorneys, experts, investigators and all of
the other costs necessary for his defense.

At Opus Bono, we do not charge any fees for our services to priests, nor do the attorneys pay us.
We take nothing for our time and expenses. 100% of your donation will go to the legal defense monies
of $300,000 needed for Father Wehrle’s defense.

Father Wehrle wants you to know that he is so very grateful and humbled by all your prayers and
loving financial support during this time of crisis. He is praying for you daily!

Gratefully in the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ the High Priest,

Joe Maher
President

PS The need is so very urgent – Father Wehrle’s life depends on it! Please consider your most
generous gift to support Father Wehrle’s defense toward the $300,000 he needs to engage Butzel Long
immediately. You can make your donation on-line through your credit card or via bank transfer at
www.opusbono.org/donate, or you can make your donation by mail to Opus Bono Sacerdotii, 5137
Dryden Road, PO Box 251, Dryden, MI 48428. Please send an email to me at joemaher@opusbono.org
if you are making a donation by mail so that Father Wehrle knows it’s coming.

Opus Bono Sacerdotii is an approved 501c3 organization, all deductions are tax deductible in
accordance with the law.

“Let us not grow weary of doing good; if we do not relax our efforts, in due time we shall reap our
harvest. While we have the opportunity, let us do good to all –
but especially those of the household of the faith.” Galatians 6:9-10

Opus Bono Sacerdotii

“Work for the Good of the Priesthood”
5137 Dryden Road, PO Box 251, Dryden, MI 48428 P: 866.425.4692
www.opusbono.org