The Diocese of Las Cruces said it removed a local priest after allegations of aiding in the theft of private financial information.
Father Chris Williams was suspended and removed from his position leading the Basilica of San Albino in Mesilla.
Bishop Peter Baldacchino in a May 8 letter to parishioners of San Albino said Williams was party to theft of more than 60,000 records.
Baldacchino claimed that the Diocese was alerted to the issue in September 2025.
Baldacchino wrote that it has reported the theft to local law enforcement and initiated an internal investigation after learning the extent of Williams' involvement during a civil lawsuit.
The Sun-News is attempting to locate the details of the lawsuit.
It is also unclear the exact type of records which were breached and how far reaching the impact of the data was.
Baldacchino alleged Williams told individuals associated with Voice of the Laity to give him diocesan financial records, which were "downloaded to a drive provided by the leader of the Voice of the Laity and subsequently handed over to Fr. Chris Williams."
The name of the alleged leader of Voice of the Laity was not made clear by the Diocese.
"I know that the news of these events will cause you great disappointment, as it has me," Baldacchino wrote. "Unfortunately, I am unable to share further details as the investigations are ongoing."
The duties of Williams will be taken over by Fr. Michael Williams, his brother.
A search of New Mexico's court records did not reveal any criminal charges against Chris Williams.
In a Facebook post, Voices of the Laity said there were "several serious inaccuracies and omissions" in the letter authored by Baldacchino.
"The public implication that faithful parishioners and Fr. Christopher engaged in criminal wrongdoing has deeply wounded many members of the Diocese," the post stated.
It countered that Williams was being "punished" by the Diocese for supporting parishioner who voiced concerns over the influence of a movement called the "Neocatechumenal Way" and pointed to the allegations as an attempt to divert attention from a canonical investigation of the Diocese by the Vatican.
The Sun-News has not been able to verify such an investigation. It also attempting to reach the Diocese of Las Cruces for comment.