NEW YORK
Catholic Herald (UK)
by Catholic News Service
posted Wednesday, 16 Dec 2015
Fr Peter Miqueli of St Frances de Chantal Parish told parishioners he was ‘not guilty of the charges’ brought against him
A New York priest accused of scandalous behaviour of a sexual and financial nature in a lawsuit filed by his parishioners on December 10 has stepped down as pastor of a church in the New York borough of the Bronx.
Saying that he made the decision to step down “while this unfortunate and regrettable situation is investigated,” Fr Peter Miqueli in a letter to members of St Frances de Chantal Parish that he was “not guilty of the charges” brought against him but “felt that my continued presence here would be a distraction to you, particularly during this season of Advent and Christmas.”
The letter went on to say that Fr Miqueli has been co-operating for months “with the investigations that have been underway to get to the bottom of the allegations that have been brought against me, and I intend to continue in any way possible to resolve this matter.”
The letter was read to parishioners attending Masses at St Frances de Chantal the weekend of December 12-13.
The 36-page lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, includes salacious details of a sexual affair Fr Miqueli allegedly carried on with Keith Crist as well as accusations that the priest took money donated to repair a church pipe organ and used drugs provided by a parishioner. The suit also claims the priest pays part of the monthly rent for Crist’s Manhattan apartment.
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