By Christian Headlines | Created at 2024-11-25 16:00:14 | Updated at 2024-11-27 01:36:21
1 day ago
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn announced that Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, who was suspended last year for allowing pop artist Sabrina Carpenter to film a racy video inside his church in Williamsburg, was relieved of "any pastoral oversight or governance role" due to reportedly mishandling nearly $2 million in parish funds. According to NPR, Gigantiello was stripped more of his duties at Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Williamsburg after an investigation revealed a "pattern of serious violations of Diocesan policies and protocols," including unauthorized financial transfers to a former aide in Mayor Eric Adams' administration, who is currently under a federal corruption probe.
In a statement issued by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn and shared with NPR, Bishop Robert Brennan said Gigantiello has been relieved of "any pastoral oversight or governance role" at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in Williamsburg.
Brennan noted Gigantiello had "mishandled substantial church funds and interfered with the administration of the Parish after being directed not to do so."
The bishop also relieved Deacon Dean Dobbins, who had served as the parish's temporary administrator during the investigation, over his use of "racist and other offensive language" during private conversations held in the church office, which were "apparently recorded at Monsignor Gigantiello's direction" without the deacon's consent.
"It was wrong to secretly record Deacon Dobbins, but the use of such language by any church employee is unacceptable and will not be tolerated," he added.
Brennan further announced that he has appointed a new administrator, Bishop Witold Mroziewski, "in order to safeguard the public trust and to protect church funds."
"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 diocese stated. "In order to safeguard the public trust and to protect church funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the Parish."
Although Gigantiello's administrative powers were revoked, he could say Mass with Bishop Mroziewski's approval, Premier Christian News reported.
The internal investigation was initially prompted after Sabrina Carpenter released the music video for her song "Feather," which was filmed at Gigantiello's church. The video, which has over 100 million views, shows Carpenter either killing or witnessing the deaths of several men who mistreated her. She drives a pink hearse to the church and dances around the altar while wearing a short black tutu in front of several pastel-colored coffins.
Following the music video's release, Brennan, the Brooklyn bishop, told the Catholic News Agency he was "appalled" at what had been filmed at the church.
"The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script," the diocese said in a statement.
Several days later, Gigantiello — who has served as the church's pastor for nearly a decade — apologized for his role in "this shameful representation, which I whole-heatedly renounce."
"The parish staff and I were not aware that anything provocative was occurring in the church, nor were we aware that faux coffins and other funeral items would be placed in the sanctuary," Gigantiello wrote in a letter to parishioners. "Most of the video was supposed to be filmed outside, near the church, which it was."
Meanwhile, Carpenter said that her team previously received approval in advance and quipped, "Jesus was a carpenter." Earlier this year, she wore a shirt with that phrase on it during her Coachella performance.
Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Sabrina Carpenter
