New York priest loses post over alleged abuse of finances

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn said on Monday it had removed Jamie Gigantiello from his position in the Our Lady of Mount Carmel—Annunciation Parish. Gigantiello’s removal followed an independent investigation that found he had persistently misused church funds and allowed a pop singer to film a music video inside his church, the diocese said.

How did this priest abuse church finances? Gigantiello from 2019 to 2021 gave roughly $1.9 million to businesses and a law firm owned by attorney Frank Carone, the diocese said. Carone became New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ chief of staff the next year. The money transfers to Carone’s business enterprises violated the diocese’s protocols for acceptable use of church funds and Gigantiello initiated them without discussing the matter with other church officials or obtaining approval for the transfer, the diocese said.

The independent investigation showed that Gigantiello transferred funds in other instances that violated the diocese’s protocols. It also showed that he routinely used a church credit card for personal expenses, according to the diocese.

What was the deal with this music video? Gigantiello allowed pop singer Sabrina Carpenter to film a music video at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel church building. Gigantiello did so in violation of church policy, the diocese said. The video features scenes of vulgarity, violence, as well as suggestive dancing inside the church building.

Has Gigantiello responded to the claims of the diocese? In an interview with National Catholic Reporter, Gigantiello characterized the disciplinary actions taken against him as part of a witch hunt that scandalized the church. Gigantiello said members of his own finance council approved the fund transfers to Carone’s businesses, and that he was unaware that approval from the diocese was required. He admitted to using the parish credit card for personal expenses, but said those funds came from an annual contribution of an extra $30,000 from the Catholic Foundation for Brooklyn and Queens. He said those extra funds were meant as compensation for duties he took on for the diocese in addition to being a parish priest.

Dig deeper: Read R. Albert Mohler Jr.’s column in WORLD Opinions about a recent scandal in the Church of England and what it can teach believers worldwide.