In a shocking turn of events, a New York priest found himself at the center of a heated debate after allowing popstar Sabrina Carpenter to film provocative scenes for a music video inside his church. This incident has led to accusations of mismanagement and the priest being stripped of his duties.

Background and Investigation

Monsignor Jamie Gigantiello was relieved of “any pastoral oversight or governance role” at the church, as stated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. The investigation was launched after the October 2023 music video release for Carpenter’s hit song Feather, which was filmed inside the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church.The Diocese revealed that the investigation uncovered other instances of mismanagement beyond the music video, including unapproved financial transfers. Bishop Robert Brennan said in the statement, according to the BBC’s media partner CBS News, “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.”A replacement was installed, and Mr. Gigantiello was removed from his responsibilities. His administrative powers had been revoked last November shortly after the criticism of Carpenter’s video. He was also removed from fundraising duties as the vicar of development for the diocese.Images from Carpenter’s video show a crucifix with profanity printed on it and Carpenter dancing on the altar in a short black dress. The diocese at the time said it was “appalled” and that proper procedures for filming had not been followed, as reported by the Associated Press.In a letter to parishioners last year, Mr. Gigantiello admitted that allowing Carpenter to film inside the church was a “lapse in judgment.” However, he has not responded to the allegations that led to his dismissal.On Monday, Bishop Brennan said a larger review under the investigation detected other instances of administrative impropriety, including Mr. Gigantiello using a credit card for personal expenses. Bishop Brennan also mentioned that from 2019 to 2021, Mr. Gigantiello transferred nearly $2m (£1.5M) in church funds to bank accounts affiliated with a former staff member of New York City Mayor Eric Adams.Adams was indicted in September on five counts of criminal offences, including bribery, wire fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations. A number of investigations have centered on Adams and those in his orbit, leading to subpoenas, law enforcement raids, and a flurry of resignations of top officials who help lead New York City.It is clear that this incident has had far-reaching consequences and has raised serious questions about the management and ethics within the church. The Diocese is now working to address these issues and ensure that such incidents do not occur again in the future.