FBI says interviews of priest, choir director were part of investigation of ‘an individual,’ not Catholics
The FBI has confirmed that it recently conducted interviews of a priest and a choir director in Connecticut, but said the interviews were part of an ongoing investigation of “an individual” and not the Catholic Church.
The FBI made the statement after news reports suggested the agency was looking into allegations of financial misconduct within the Archdiocese of Hartford.
“The FBI conducted interviews of an individual’s involvement in a possible criminal investigation,” FBI spokesman Timothy Horty said in a written statement. “The FBI will not comment further on the investigation at this time.”
The New Haven Register reported that the FBI had been interviewing the priest and the choir director at a Catholic church in Waterbury in recent weeks and that the interviews were related to an investigation into possible financial misconduct.
The Archdiocese of Hartford said it was “unaware of any specifics concerning the FBI’s investigation” and had not been contacted by the FBI about the interviews.
The Archdiocese did confirm that the priest and the choir director had been interviewed and said it was “cooperating fully” with the FBI’s investigation. It did not provide any other details, but said it was taking the matter “very seriously.”