Archdiocese Yet to Substantiate Claims against Priest in "Sex Master" Lawsuit

By Eddie DAnna
Staten Island Advance
December 14, 2015

http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/archdiocese_yet_to_substantiat.html

The Rev. Peter Miqueli, seen in this Advance file photo from 2000.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — While its investigation is ongoing, the Archdiocese says it has yet to substantiate claims against a priest with Staten Island ties accused in a lawsuit of using collection-plate money to support a homosexual relationship with his "sex master."

In an email sent Sunday night to parishioners, the Archdiocese's communications office said officials have met with parishioners at St. Frances de Chantal R.C. Church in the Bronx to hear their concerns over Rev. Peter Miqueli.

"To date we have found nothing to substantiate the allegations that have been raised, and, in fact, with regard to the parish finances, we know that the allegation that Father Miqueli stole $1 million from each parish, as was alleged by the plaintiffs' attorney, is completely false," the Archdiocese email reads. "We did find that Father Miqueli had deficient management and administrative practices, and have put forward several directives to remedy those deficiencies."

The investigation, including a "forensic audit of the parish," will continue, according to the email.

According to a lawsuit filed in Manhattan Supreme Court last Monday, several worshippers claim Father Miqueli used their money to fuel BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, masochism) sex romps with his "sex master," Keith Crist.

The lawsuitsuit claims Father Miqueli stole at least $1 million from parishioners at several parishes he had worked. He previously served at St. Sylvester's, Holy Family, St. Clare's and St. Rita's on Staten Island.

Father Miqueli hired Crist to play out sexual fantasies in which he would be Crist's submissive lover or "sex slave," according to court papers. The priest allegedly paid Crist $1,000 for each role-playing session, and paid the $1,075.50-a-month rent for Crist's Park Avenue apartment.

The lawsuit also alleges Father Miqueli used the cash to buy a $264,000 home in New Jersey, $60,000 in illegal and prescription drugs, and take dozens of international vacations.

The parishioners who filed the suit were largely informed by Crist's spurned ex-girlfriend, Tatyana Gudin, according to a New York Post report.