Kendall at T19 indicates that it appears that the Daily News didn't contact the bishop for the first story. Why should any of this be surprised at this? The Daily News was obviously printing a sensationalist story - who needs a bishop's comments for that? ed.
From the NY Daily News via TitusOneNine:
BY SEAN EVANS and TRACY CONNOR
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITERS
Friday, January 2nd 2009, 2:27 AM
An Episcopal bishop will formally ask a church committee Friday to open an investigation into club-hopping priest Gregory Malia's nightlife romps.
The Right Rev. Paul Marshall of the Diocese of Bethlehem, Pa., said he was troubled by reports of Malia dropping tens of thousands of dollars at trendy boites, in apparent violation of his vows.
Malia - who has been suspended from his priestly duties - could be permanently defrocked if the so-called standing committee rules against him.
The Jaguar-driving priest has denied doing anything improper and predicted the church committee will clear him and let him return as vicar of a small summer parish.
He insists wild spending on visits to clubs like Pink Elephant were connected to fund-raising efforts and his for-profit company - a pharmacy for hemophiliacs.
"I'm sure it'll be okay," Malia told the Daily News after an article about his extravagant jaunts led his shocked church bosses to take action.
The bishop said he was "distressed" by the reports because he expects members of the diocese to lead a humble lifestyle - and stunned because he thought Malia was more strait-laced.
"Part of the surprise of all this is that he has a very conservative view of the Bible, is opposed to all expressions of homosexuality ... and doesn't believe in the ordination of women," Marshall said.
"While I have always known him to be wealthy, he has always seemed to be the wealthy conservative."
Malia, who suffers from hemophilia, kept a low profile in the church after being ordained in 2002, church officials said.
He rarely participated in diocesan events and skipped about half the services at his parish, St. James in Dundaff, because of his illness.
In an interview earlier this week, Malia said his charitable giving is close to "hundreds of thousands" of dollars but would not provide details.
He was also vague about his business dealings in the clubs and had said in an earlier interview that his visits to the party spots were generally not business-related.
Club sources told The News that when Malia comes to the clubs, he orders magnums of the most expensive drinks, gives enormous tips and buys bottles of Dom Perignon for strangers.
"I think some of it has been exaggerated," Malia said, adding that he welcomes the church probe.
"I'm going to answer their questions."
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