Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Woman Sues Catholic Priest Who Seduced Her
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 30, 2008
Modified Oct 30, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
John Del Signore
Published Oct 30, 2008
Modified Oct 30, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Reverend Elvis Elano, a priest formerly posted at Our Lady of the Snows in the Queens, is having a very trying day. After his secret seven-month affair with parishioner Judith Rodrigues-Lytwyn ended earlier this month, his ex has gone public with a lawsuit in Brooklyn Supreme Court, and The Smoking Gun has obtained a cachet of embarrassing photos, emails and documents, like the receipt for his online Viagra purchase.
Rodrigues-Lytwyn, age 50, says in a court statement that, "I was looking for some spiritual guidance, and finding some peace from a religious perspective." Instead, she contends that Reverend Elano abused his position and seduced her as she went through a traumatic divorce. She was in the confession booth last March when he allegedly told her, "Your presence struck me like a thunder bolt." Later, he assured her their relationship was "ordained by God."
Their affair ended when Rodrigues-Lytwyn got her "head on straight" and "realized that he preyed upon me." Another factor in the break-up, apparently, was Elano's confession that he picked up a painful rash on his genitals from another woman. In an email to Rodrigues-Lytwyn (now on The Smoking Gun), Elano writes,"The other Friday, I tried to look for a doctor who does not know me. It is because of the rash on my thing. It is spreading out. Now I even have on my legs. They are like spots but painful. I don't know what it is..." Rodrigues-Lytwyn is seeking $25 million from the Diocese of Brooklyn, which governs Our Lady of the Snows.
Tagged
affair
brooklyn
church
Elvis Elano
lawsuit
post
priest
John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
MTA should eliminate some jobs to prepare for budget woes, watchdog writes
The Citizens Budget Commission suggested eliminating one crew member from trains that are fully automated.
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Nov 2, 2026 at 12:05 a.m. ET
NYC Council to scrutinize snow removal plans as winter approaches
Lawmakers will review the city's preparations and consider a bill requiring the city to publish historical snowplowing records.
By
Catalina Gonella
News
NYC Council to scrutinize snow removal plans as winter approaches
Lawmakers will review the city's preparations and consider a bill requiring the city to publish historical snowplowing records.
By
Catalina Gonella
'The best day of the year': Inside Clinton Hill's 'mile nine' NYC marathon party
By
Stephanie Keith
November has 3 meteor showers and the best chance to see Uranus
By
Rosemary Misdary
A 'beautiful' day for a marathon, as runners, spectators pack NYC streets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .