A Brooklyn Catholic church has been forced to re-bless its altar after a pop singer filmed a racy music video at the century-old site.
Brooklyn Bishop Father Robert Brennan took action against the parish that allowed pop star Sabrina Carpenter to shoot a controversial music video at the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church.
Last week, Brooklyn Bishop Father Robert Brennan criticized Carpenter’s video for her song ‘Feather,
In the video, Carpenter, 24, wears exclusively racy outfits as she watches several men who wronged her die.
At one point, she struts into the church to attend a funeral for the dead men, where she moves through a number of pastel coffins, one of which includes the inscription ‘RIP B****.’
The local bishop was horrified by the contents of the video and made known his displeasure with the local parish that failed to prevent its filming.
His statement read: ‘The parish did not follow diocesan policy regarding the filming on Church property, which includes a review of the scenes and script.’
The parish first claimed the production company ‘failed to accurately represent the video content,’ but an investigation found that the documents given to the parish provided sufficient description of ‘inappropriate behavior unsuitable for a church sanctuary.’
Due to the lapse in judgment, Brennan announced that the vicar of the parish, Monsignor Jamie Giantiello was removed from his position, though he will remain in the church as a pastor.
Following the announcement, Brennan and Monsignor Joseph Grimaldi conducted a Mass of Reparation, during which the bishop blessed the altar with holy water.
In a statement following the Mass, the diocese said: ‘Through the offering of this Mass, Bishop Brennan has restored the sanctity of this church and repaired the harm.’
The Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary parish, located in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, was first established in 1863 and was largely a gathering place for Lithuanian Americans.
The parish is reportedly the only one that offers a weekly Sunday Mass entirely in Lithuanian.
