FREEPORT, NY – Donnie McClurkin, pastor of Perfecting Faith Church (PFC) in New York, is responding to allegations of sexual abuse. The award-winning Gospel recording artist took to social media on Wednesday (Jan. 6) to address a lawsuit filed against him.
“Many of you are aware of the profane allegations of sexual assault/rape and coercion that have been recently lodged against me,” McClurkin shared in an open letter. “I want to state clearly and unequivocally that these allegations are contrived and untrue,” the pastor said.
“I understand the weight of such false claims, especially in our community rooted in faith, trust, and the teachings of Jesus Christ,” McClurkin told his supporters. “And sexual violence, in any form, is a real and painful reality for many and not to be used frivolously,” he added. “True survivors deserve to be heard, protected, and supported! At the same time, the TRUTH matters! And the TRUTH has not been told~!”
Giuseppe Corletto recently filed a lawsuit under New York City’s Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Law, which extended the statute of limitations in 2022 for sexual abuse allegations so plaintiffs could sue their abusers for compensation. Corletto reportedly sought mentorship from McClurkin in 2003 after reading the recording artist’s book. In his autobiography, McClurkin talks about how he overcame the “curse” of homosexuality.
“[Donnie McClurkin] talked about being raped as a child, which resonated with me because that’s similar to my story,” Corletto said of an event he attended where McClurkin was speaking. The then-21-year-old was introduced to the award-winning artist after the event, which led to an immediate connection.
“At first it was all very innocent and what I thought [was] mentoring,” Corletto shared. McClurkin allegedly took the relationship from mentorship to sexual advances, with the culmination of things occurring in 2013 when McClurkin reportedly sexually assaulted Corletto in a hotel room during a trip to Niagara Falls. The pastor allegedly wrote an apology letter to his parishioner that Corletto and his lawyer believe to be an admission of guilt.
“I didn’t make this up. I wasn’t crazy,” Corletto shared during an interview with NBC News. “I felt vindicated in some ways,” he continued. “He’s literally admitting to his guilt.”
Donnie McClurkin refuted any insinuation of guilt in his open letter released on Wednesday (Jan. 6). “I have always sought to conduct myself with integrity, transparency, godly care, and responsibility in the fulfillment of my Christian life and duties,” the pastor declared. “This accusation of salacious engagement or ANY misconduct that harmed, exploited, or took advantage of anyone and misused my position, leadership, or influence in any way in these false accusations is emphatically untrue.”