More woes for priest who allowed pop star to shoot music video in church

NEW YORK (AP):

The leader of a New York City church where pop star Sabrina Carpenter filmed provocative scenes for a music video was stripped of his duties Monday after church officials said an investigation revealed other instances of mismanagement.

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at his church located in the Williamsburg neighbourhood of Brooklyn, Bishop Robert Brennan said in a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn.

An investigation launched after the video revealed tha t Gigantiello made unauthorised financial transfers to a former top aide in New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ administration, which is being investigated on charges of corruption, Brennan said.

“I am saddened to share that investigations conducted by Alvarez & Marsal and Sullivan & Cromwell LLP have uncovered evidence of serious violations of Diocesan policies and protocols at Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish,” the bishop said. “In order to safeguard the public trust, and to protect church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the parish.”

On Monday, Brennan said a broader review uncovered other instances of administrative impropriety. Among them is an ongoing investigation into Gigantiello’s use of a church credit card for “substantial” personal expenses, he said.

From 2019 to 2021, the monsignor also transferred $1.9 million in parish funds to bank accounts affiliated with Frank Carone, Adams’ former chief of staff, Brennan said. The bishop said Gigantiello failed to seek prior approval for the transactions and didn’t properly document them, in violation of the diocese’s investment policies and protocols.

Gigantiello’s administrative powers were taken away after Carpenter’s video for her hit song, Feather, sparked criticism last November.

The priest has now also been cut from his pastoral duties, giving Mroziewski “complete authority over the parish,” although Gigantiello will still be able to say Mass with Mroziewski’s approval, said diocese spokesperson Adriana Rodriguez.

Brennan, who oversees Catholic churches in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, said he also relieved a deacon who had been appointed as a temporary administrator during the investigation. He said the deacon had used racist and other offensive language during private conversations in the parish office that had been secretly recorded at Gigantiello’s direction.

Gigantiello didn’t respond to email and Facebook messages seeking comment Monday.

Released on October 31, 2023, the Feather music video revolves around men behaving badly toward Carpenter before meeting grisly deaths.

At points in the video, the former Disney Channel star is seen pulling up to the distinctive brick church in a pink hearse and then dancing in front of the church’s ornate altar wearing a short black dress and a black veil alongside a colourful array of faux coffins.

The diocese at the time said it was “appalled” and that proper procedures for filming had not been followed.

Besides relieving Gigantiello of administrative duties, Brennan also dropped him from fundraising duties as vicar of development for the diocese and conducted a spiritual rite to restore the sanctity of the church.