A New York City monsignor who raised eyebrows by allowing pop star Sabrina Carpenter to film a video at his church was relieved of his duties after allegedly mishandling nearly $2 million in church funds, church officials announced .
Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello, of Our Lady of Mount Carmel – Annunciation Parish, no longer serves in a pastoral oversight or administrative role at the parish, Bishop Robert J. Brennan of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn said in a statement Monday.
The decision followed an investigation after the parish was subpoenaed over New York Mayor Eric Adams’ corruption scandal, NBC New York reported.
The diocese said the investigation “revealed a pattern of serious violations of diocese policies and protocols by Monsignor Gigantiello.”
The diocese accused the monsignor of transferring a total of $1.9 million in parish funds to bank accounts belonging to the Frank Carone law firm and two companies associated with him. According to NBC New York, Carone was once Adams’ chief of staff.
Former pastor of the Shrine Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello in 2022 in Brooklyn, New York.
In January 2019, Gigantiello allegedly transferred $1 million in parish funds to Carone’s law firm, the diocese said. Gigantiello did not notify the diocese of the transfer or seek the required prior approval, the statement said. The diocese also accused him of failing to properly document the transfer and said Gigantiello did not receive necessary details from Carone about what the money would be used for.
The $1 million transfer violated investment policies and protocols, the diocese said. Carone’s law firm paid back the money with about 9% interest.
According to the diocese, Gigantiello allegedly made two more transfers in August 2021 and November 2021, totaling $900,000 in parish funds, to two companies connected to Carone.
“Monsignor again failed to notify diocesan officials or seek the required approval for either transfer,” the diocese said. “Monsignor apparently made both transfers on the basis of bank notes that included one-year repayment terms at agreed interest rates. Once again, it appears that Monsignor did not obtain from Mr. Carone the necessary details about the relevant companies or the use of these funds. “
Gigantiello, without consulting the diocese, requested early repayment of the principal amounts for both loans in February 2022, without requiring payment to the parish of the substantial interest provided for in the notes, the diocese said.
The investigation also revealed other instances in which the monsignor transferred and used parish funds in violation of diocese policies and protocols. Gigantiello has also been accused of using a church credit card “for substantial personal expenses,” the diocese said, noting that the allegations remain under investigation.
Arthur Aidala, an attorney for Gigantiello, told NBC New York that the credit card charges were authorized in writing as part of the monsignor’s compensation agreement. Aidala also said the cash transfers benefited the parish, claiming the church received 12% interest on the $1 million payment and not 9% as the diocese said.
Carone and his spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from NBC News on Tuesday.
Bishop Brennan said he was “saddened” by what the investigation revealed.
“To safeguard the public’s trust and protect the church’s funds, I have appointed Bishop Witold Mroziewski as administrator of the parish,” he said in a statement.
Gigantiello got into trouble last year after allowing pop star Sabrina Carpenter to film a music video at the church, which the diocese said violated its policies and prompted the investigation that led to Monday’s announcement.
Brennan removed Gigantiello as vicar for development of the diocese and relieved him of all administrative and financial oversight of the parish after the music video incident.
Deacon Dean Dobbins was named as the temporary administrator, but in Monday’s statement, Brennan said the deacon was relieved after he allegedly used racist and offensive language during a recorded private conversation.
Brennan said the conversation “was apparently recorded at the direction of Monsignor Gigantiello 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.” Dobbins could not immediately be reached for comment.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
