If the Vatican can act as headquarters for a male prostitution ring, I doubt you’ll be surprised to learn the Rev. Kevin Gray, the 64-year-old Roman Catholic priest at Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury, Conn., stands accused of fleecing the church coffers to pay for male escorts.
A newspaper report throws down the term “double life” to describe Gray’s “$200,000 in restaurant bills — including dinners at Tavern on the Green — and hotel stays in the lap of Manhattan luxury.” Gray, who worked at the church from 2003 thru April 15 of this year, surrendered to police this morning and faces 20 years in jail on a single first-degree larceny charge; his bail is $750,000.
The saddest part of the story? The Archdiocese of Hartford last month defrocked Gray and says he can no longer server as a priest in the state or anywhere in the country.
Awww, what ever happened to the Roman Catholic Church standing by their same-sex loving priests? Or are we supposed to walk away with the message that stealing is a worse sin than abusing little children?
How about we take this to the next level?
Our newsletter is like a refreshing cocktail (or mocktail) of LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture, served up with a side of eye-candy.
Nick
money > kids
William
You are a wee bit low on the figure. It’s $1.3 million in church money stolen over seven years to use for male escorts, expensive clothing,luxury hotels and restaurants. Gray used the money to stay at such hotels as the Waldorf-Astoria and buy expensive clothing with labels including Armani and Brooks Brothers. He also paid the college tuition and rent of two of his “men.”
B
“Awww, what ever happened to the Roman Catholic Church standing by their same-sex loving priests? Or are we supposed to walk away with the message that stealing is a worse sin than abusing little children?”
Stealing from the Roman Catholic Church is one thing that will definitely get a quick response. It may have taken them 400 years to get around to reopening Galileo’s case, but if you are caught with your fingers in their collection plate, which out!
Pira
@B:
It goes to show where their priorities really are, doesn’t it?
Mac McNeill
I don’t think they’re upset about the guy being gay, that’s a given, I think they’re more upset because they lost money. That is generally the only thing the Catholic Church is interested in any way.
Hilarious
Imagine if that money had gone to people who could use it rather than a God who never asked for it.
There’s nothing wrong with spirituality and beliefs, but people need to stop being stupid. Taking the word of another man as the supposed word of a spiritual being you can’t see or hear is idiotic.
If a being exists powerful enough to create this sphere we live on I think said being is powerful enough to speak on his/her/it’s own.
Mark
From the very beginning this church has been a fraud. It was all about power over men from the start. Read a good novel called On This Rock by Dave Leonard to get a taste of what they’re really like.
David Ehrenstein
That’s only half the story. This same creep held massive re-marrige ceremonies for straight couples as propaganda for opposition to gay marriage.
As for his current fate in years past the church would have hid him.
Now it can’t.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
So, rape the shit out of kids, get a pass; steal money, go to jail? Unfortunately, the sheeple will never see the massive absudity that the Catholic church is.
Reminds me of when I was an alterboy at my local church, and the good priest would send out an extra collection plate when he was into his bookie for a bundle.
L.
“Or are we supposed to walk away with the message that stealing is a worse sin than abusing little children?”
It would seem it is indeed. One priest around here stole a quarter million in Church monies and was kicked out by B16 himself in a matter of months. Same B16 who stayed inquiries of pedophiles who pleaded to him earlier.
Mind you, there *is* a Commandment against stealing, and none about child rape, so maybe they’re just all playing by the Book.
Kevin (New Jersey, US)
I’ve seen this narrative quite a bit, along the lines of, “So stealing from the Church is worse than sexually abusing children.” This, of course, is nonsense. If anything, the public ought to read this the opposite way:
As stealing, while a sin and a crime, is not nearly as repugnant as the sexual abuse of children, it makes perfect sense that the Church should be far more open about this with investigators, and that charges should be publicly filed. Sexual abuse of children, on the other hand, is so utterly abhorrent to people of conscience that the Church finds it much harder to bring itself to admit publicly that this occurs within its organization (hence all the hiding and obstruction).
Is the Church’s course morally or ethically correct? Of course not. But this makes a lot more sense than the idea that the Church thinks child rape is OK, which, regardless of some comments to the contrary, it does not.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Kevin (New Jersey, US):
But this makes a lot more sense than the idea that the Church thinks child rape is OK, which, regardless of some comments to the contrary, it does not.
The churches decision to ignore, deceive, disseminate, and outright lie about the abuse of children at the hands of priests belies your statement, Kevin.
When the hierarchy stops blaming the victims, and starts putting priests behind bars, your opinion will matter, Kevin. Until then, your’s just a sad apologist for child abuse.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
The lunatics with pointy hats and dresses in the vatican under the direction of Pope Benedick (aka the boy nazi) and Cardinal (broke the) Law have been trying their damm hardest to insinuate the kiddie diddling priests were not actually Gay. Because God knows we can play the always hilarious game of “Parish hide and seek” with hundreds of kiddie diddlers.
But this priest actually had Gay sex with adult males! And spent monies on Gay sex???? Go directley into the fires of hell…………..
Truth
With any luck he’s got herpes simplex 10 of the axe. That’s why it’s rotting out. One more s c u m bag in a robe got a ticket to h e toothpicks.
L.
@Kevin (New Jersey, US): The “stealing is worse than abuse” line is but a shorthand. What is meant there, is not anger at the Church for being more or less *public* about either – it is about It being more or less *lenient* and forgiving. Thieves are expelled swiftly, while abusers are protected and viewed as victims. *That* is what irks.
jeffree
“Another one bites the dust” is the first song that comes to mind.
Attend any “coming out” group at any school or college and you’ll hear stories about priests having inappropriate contacts with young guyz.
Waterbury CT has a large Hispanic population who will defend this man as a “good, honest priest” despite the fact that he literally stole money they gave each week for him stay in posh hotels and buy Armani.
That there was no financial oversight in this parish speaks to a trust misplaced. That money should have gone to education and healthcare for parish members, not to Tavern on the Green.
The Catholics have a *lot* of ‘splaining to do here.
Swedish Fish
I find Kevin’s reasoning to make sense. Churches don’t want reputations as dens of pedophilia. A thief is seen as less threatening and forgivable, therefore he can be punished in front of the public.
On the other hand, I agree with other commenters, too. The fact that they still deny it after getting their hands caught in the cookie jar speaks of their values.
Kevin (New Jersey, US)
@Mr. Enemabag Jones: Come on now, Ememabag, I’m not an apologist for child abuse. Let’s not be ridiculous.
All I’m saying is that the manner in which the Church has chosen to handle these situations shows how horrible they actually do think such abuse is. Theirs is a very old way of thinking, and I’m sure many of these clergy have rationalized to themselves that it’s OK to hide these wicked deeds because to publicly air them will detract from the evangelical mission of their faith… or whatever.
That having been said, I’m in agreement with the authorities in Belgium who recently raided the offices of that country’s archbishop. The Church should not – especially in the US – get any kind of special privilege or protection on account of anything, not the charity work they do, not their place in history and the community. Kick down their fancy doors and find these wretches.
But, at the same time, let’s not tar-and-feather the entire institution with child rape just because their dogma disapproves of (your) homosexuality. There are a lot of bitter, gay ex-Catholics out there who use the child abuse scandals as a rhetorical sledgehammer to attack the Church for their own ends.
nikko
Disgusting, both he and the catholic church.
male escort
There is nothing strange when somebody rent male escort. The problem is that spend church money for that.
Mr. Enemabag Jones
@Kevin (New Jersey, US):
Come on now, Ememabag, I’m not an apologist for child abuse.
Sorry, Kevin, but yes you are. By making two kinds of abuse subjective–financial, and child–you’ve defended one as more palatable than another, therefore defending the actions of the church in both cases. That makes you an apologist for abuse.
Let’s not be ridiculous.
You’ve set the standard, Kevin, I’m merely following suit.
All I’m saying is that the manner in which the Church has chosen to handle these situations shows how horrible they actually do think such abuse is.
And you speak for the church in what capacity? By defending the church’s actions, you are an apologist. Trying to justify your defense of the indefensible by applying your Psyche 101 reasoning does not change the fact that the church swiftly punishes those who hamper their financial aspects, while hiding, and defending those who attack society’s most vulnerable.
Theirs is a very old way of thinking, and I’m sure many of these clergy have rationalized to themselves that it’s OK to hide these wicked deeds because to publicly air them will detract from the evangelical mission of their faith… or whatever.
Spin as you might, Kevin, it does not change the fact that you are defending the direct interference of the church in the cases of abuse. Old thinking, or not, when the hierarchy decides it’s more important to paint a rosy picture on a rotting canvas, and to shuttle child molesters from parish to parish, and eventually to third world countries, they have participated in the abuse of people world wide.
Kick down their fancy doors and find these wretches.
Stop being a keyboard warrior, Kevin, and actually do something, then, rather than justifying their actions.
But, at the same time, let’s not tar-and-feather the entire institution with child rape just because their dogma disapproves of (your) homosexuality.
So, you have no issue with the church raping kids, as long as they do “good” work? Has it ever occurred to you, that for many protests, that good work was merely a foot in the door to access kids?
As far as dogma, I will bow to your knowledge, Kevin, considering you are by far the most dogmatic person I’ve seen posting here on this subject.
There are a lot of bitter, gay ex-Catholics out there who use the child abuse scandals as a rhetorical sledgehammer to attack the Church for their own ends.
You do realize that males homosexuals aren’t the only victims of the church, Kevin? There are many, many heterosexual males and females who have been abused by church officials. That you would try and make this about “bitter” gay Catholics demonstrates your real reasoning for defending child raping priests. Clearly to you, it’s far better to defend the status quo, and use the homosexuality straw man argument as justification your doing so.
Frankly, Kevin, you seem far too accomodating when it comes to the abuse of kids.
pete
At least Reverend Grey will have some fond memories in jail. Let’s hope the young men he benefited will have the decency to visit him in jail, even if he doesn’t have any more money to take them out for that nice steak dinner or new Armani suit.
Don’t you wish you had a double life like Reverend Gray?
http://scallywagandvagabond.com/2010/07/rev-kevin-j-gray-busted-for-using-church-money-on-male-escorts/
zzx
This is a thing of beauty, it is the paradise of the woman, man
http://www.gucciusaoutlet.net/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=77&zenid=aa7cf3c1c03ba16b9ac00c8cd2a23ef2