YNOT – A Catholic priest who was adored by his parishioners partly because he lived an exemplary — and Spartan — life has been arrested for embezzling about $1.3 million from his poor Connecticut parish. According to police investigators, the Rev. Kevin J. Gray spent the money over seven years on a lavish secret life that included male escorts, strip clubs, fancy restaurants, posh hotels and expensive clothing.On the surface, Gray reportedly eschewed most conveniences of modern life. With a salary of less than $28,000 a year, he did not own a car and walked to mass from another parish so a charity organization could use the rectory at his church. Parishioners especially admired the way Father Gray assisted immigrants, and most believed the priest suffered from colon cancer.

A routine audit of the finances at Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazon Parish in Waterbury turned up discrepancies, alerting authorities to the priest’s secret life. According to the arrest affidavit, Gray admitted he took more than $1 million in church funds and did not deny how he spent the money.

Gray was arraigned Tuesday and remains jailed in lieu of $750,000 bond.

Police Capt. Christopher Corbett said Gray’s secret life took place primarily in New York City. Corbett also said Gray, 64, may have cooked up the cancer story to explain frequent absences from the parish.

Investigators discovered evidence Gray stayed in such tony hotels as the Waldorf-Astoria, the New York Palace Hotel and Copley Square in Boston. He allegedly splurged on designer clothing from Armani, Saks 5th Avenue and Brooks Brothers and dined at top-shelf locations including Tavern on the Green and Arturo’s in New York, Union League Café in New Haven and Abe & Louie’s in Boston.

As for companionship, one witness told police Gray presented himself as a successful attorney who represented Sacred Heart church. The priest paid the witness’ Harvard tuition and bought him a piano and dogs, then paid for piano lessons and veterinary care.

According to the arrest affidavit, Gray told police he had grown to hate the priesthood and was irritated with the assignments handed him by the archdiocese.

The Archdiocese of Hartford released a statement in which officials said they are “deeply saddened” by Gray’s alleged embezzlement and are working with the parish to institute better financial controls and catch up with debts like insurance premiums that went unpaid due to Gray’s behavior.

“At the spiritual level, we continue to pray for healing and consolation for the parish family as it moves forward and for guidance and reconciliation for Father Gray as he encounters the legal proceedings that await him,” the statement noted.

Hispanic parishioners rallied to Gray’s defense.

“He is not what the superiors are saying about him,” Juan Marrero told The Waterbury Republican-American. “This good friend of mine did not have a car, did not have good clothes to be parading around in. He was a very humble person.”

Gray served as pastor for Sacred Heart/Sagrado Corazon Parish from 2003 until April 15, when he was given medical leave.