DELRAY BEACH, Fla. -- Two Roman Catholic priests stole a combined $8.6 million in offerings and gifts made to their parish over several years, prosecutors said Thursday.

Monsignor John Skehan, who was pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer Catholic Church for four decades, was arrested Wednesday night at Palm Beach International Airport after he returned from Ireland.

Also accused in the theft is the Rev. Francis Guinan, who succeeded Skehan three years ago. He has disappeared and is being sought, city police and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement said.

Investigators say Skehan, 79, created several "slush" accounts, and instructed church workers that some money should be funneled there to hide it from the Palm Beach Diocese. The thefts began in 2001, police said.

Specifics about where most of the $8.6 million went or precisely how it was taken were not included in a probable cause affidavit.

But Preston Mighdoll, assistant state attorney in Palm Beach County, said the theft was detected from an audit of church books that is still producing possible misappropriation.

But Ken Johnson, attorney for Skehan, said he thought the multimillion dollar figure was "oversensationalized."

"My reading of the probable cause affidavit indicates that the amount of money he's actually accused of misappropriating amounts to about $325,000, which is a far cry from $8.6 million," Johnson said.

Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito of the Diocese of Palm Beach said the two priests were placed on administrative leave and will not have permission "to exercise publicly their priestly ministry" until the criminal matter is resolved.

"I wish to assure all that, independent of this matter, a policy of regular biennial audits of every diocesan entity and a system for the handling of parish funds were established during the past three years. Parishes are required to follow these policies," he said in a statement.