WPIX

A Roman Catholic priest was arrested and charged Tuesday, after he stole over $1 million from church funds to pay for a number of personal expenses including male escorts, authorities said.

According to Waterbury Police, Kevin Gray, 64, is charged with first degree larceny after an investigation revealed he pilfered $1.3 million in church money over a course of seven years while serving as pastor at Sacred Heart Church in Waterbury.

An investigation was launched into Gray's misuse of church funds after the Hartford Archdiocese alerted police, suspecting the former pastor took the money for personal use.

Police say a financial review of records found that Gray spent the money on stays at luxury hotels, dining in lavish restaurants, clothing, in addition to the male escorts.

The Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, the world's largest support group for clergy abuse victims, lashed out against the accused priest, urging those who may have more information about Gray's alleged wrongdoings to come forward.

"Let's hope Fr. Gray's crimes only involved consenting adults," Outreach Director of SNAP Barbara Dorris said in a statement to PIX 11 News. "We hope that anyone who saw, suspected or suffered from his misdeeds will call police immediately, so that the truth might be fully revealed and that both the cleric and anyone who ignored or enabled his wrongdoing will be punished."

Gray, who served at Sacred Heart's pastor from January 2003 to April 2010, was arraigned in Waterbury Superior Court Tuesday.