Gay Priest Robs Church of $1 Million
A Roman Catholic priest who reportedly disagreed with the church's position on homosexuality and was angry about being transferred stands accused of stealing more than $1 million from his parish.
The Rev. Kevin Gray, 64, allegedly used the money to fund a double life filled with male escorts, designer goods, restaurant meals and hotel stays for seven years.
The former pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Waterbury, Conn., was charged Tuesday with first-degree larceny and jailed in lieu of $750,000 bond, the New York Post reported.
"The life he was leading in New York City was much different than the life he was leading in Waterbury as a priest," Waterbury Police Capt. Christopher Corbett told the New York Daily News. "He's certainly an example of someone who was leading a double life."
Gray told the 35-year-old man he was a lawyer for Catholic Charities and went into New York City for treatment for colon cancer, both of which were untrue, the warrant said.
When Waterbury police spoke with Gray at the Manhattan apartment on June 10, he told them "he had grown to hate being a priest and was upset with the archdiocese for the assignments they had given him over the years," the warrant says.
He said he was "bitter" when he was transferred in 2001 to New Hartford and his mother was dying in a New Haven hospital, the warrant said. He started stealing in 2003 because he "felt the church owed it to him," the warrant said.
Gray told authorities he used church funds to pay for dinners, hotel rooms, clothing and orders placed to Campus Escorts in New York.
"Mr. Gray stated that he is gay and does have a problem with the church's position on homosexuality," the arrest warrant stated.
The alleged theft was uncovered by church officials.
Gray allegedly spent more than $205,000 on meals at restaurants like Tavern on the Green, more than $130,000 on hotel stays, including at the Waldorf-Astoria, often at the times he hired male escorts. He is also accused of dropping more than $80,000 on pricey clothing, the Post said.
Gray also took out credit cards for a man he met at a male strip club and another he met through an escort service, the Daily News said. One charged $67,000, and the other spent nearly $50,000 on goods from luxury retailer Louis Vuitton and gym membership fees.
He also allegedly made a secret agreement for a cell phone provider to lease space in the church's steeple for an antenna, which brought in more than $200,000. Such deals are banned by church officials, the Post said. See Chick's SIN CITY.
The Rev. Kevin Gray, 64, allegedly used the money to fund a double life filled with male escorts, designer goods, restaurant meals and hotel stays for seven years.
The former pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Waterbury, Conn., was charged Tuesday with first-degree larceny and jailed in lieu of $750,000 bond, the New York Post reported.
"The life he was leading in New York City was much different than the life he was leading in Waterbury as a priest," Waterbury Police Capt. Christopher Corbett told the New York Daily News. "He's certainly an example of someone who was leading a double life."
Gray told the 35-year-old man he was a lawyer for Catholic Charities and went into New York City for treatment for colon cancer, both of which were untrue, the warrant said.
When Waterbury police spoke with Gray at the Manhattan apartment on June 10, he told them "he had grown to hate being a priest and was upset with the archdiocese for the assignments they had given him over the years," the warrant says.
He said he was "bitter" when he was transferred in 2001 to New Hartford and his mother was dying in a New Haven hospital, the warrant said. He started stealing in 2003 because he "felt the church owed it to him," the warrant said.
Gray told authorities he used church funds to pay for dinners, hotel rooms, clothing and orders placed to Campus Escorts in New York.
"Mr. Gray stated that he is gay and does have a problem with the church's position on homosexuality," the arrest warrant stated.
The alleged theft was uncovered by church officials.
Gray allegedly spent more than $205,000 on meals at restaurants like Tavern on the Green, more than $130,000 on hotel stays, including at the Waldorf-Astoria, often at the times he hired male escorts. He is also accused of dropping more than $80,000 on pricey clothing, the Post said.
Gray also took out credit cards for a man he met at a male strip club and another he met through an escort service, the Daily News said. One charged $67,000, and the other spent nearly $50,000 on goods from luxury retailer Louis Vuitton and gym membership fees.
He also allegedly made a secret agreement for a cell phone provider to lease space in the church's steeple for an antenna, which brought in more than $200,000. Such deals are banned by church officials, the Post said. See Chick's SIN CITY.
posted by chickcomics | 9:19 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home