NEW YORK
Church Militant
by Christine Niles • ChurchMilitant.com • December 12, 2015
“I have made the decision to step aside from my position as pastor of this parish …”
BRONX (ChurchMilitant.com) – Following intense media scrutiny over the last 48 hours, including from ChurchMilitant.com, Fr. Peter Miqueli — the New York pastor being sued over allegedly embezzling more than $1 million to fund his perverted sex life — has resigned.
The announcement came this evening at 5:00 p.m. EST as Fr. Miqueli read a prepared statement outside of St. Francis de Chantal parish in Throggs Neck, New York. “I have made the decision to step aside from my position as pastor of this parish while this unfortunate and regrettable situation is investigated … .”
Father Miqueli insisted that he is “not guilty of the charges” documented in the 40-page lawsuit filed Thursday by attorney Michael Dowd on behalf of parishioners at St. Frances de Chantal.
The lawsuit also charges the archdiocese of New York and Cdl. Timothy Dolan with knowledge of these embezzlement crimes while they were occurring.
Miqueli concluded by saying, “It is in the best interests of the parish that this matter be resolved without me serving as your pastor,” and that “Cdl. Dolan has graciously given me permission to [resign].”
Earlier today, Cdl. Dolan admitted he’s known for some time about the allegations of drug-fueled sex romps and theft by Fr. Miqueli and that the priest has been cooperating with the archdiocese. But parishioners who have spoken with ChurchMilitant.com claim Dolan is “backpedaling.”
Speaking at a Catholic Charities event Saturday, Dolan acknowledged he saw the explicit content in emails detailing Miqueli’s sexual shenanigans. “You bet I saw it. You bet I saw it,” he said.
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