STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The Rev. Michael Reilly, principal of St. Joseph by-the-Sea High School, denied as "false and absurd" allegations contained in a lawsuit that he called a guidance counselor a "pedophile" and slurred and berated teachers with X-rated language and sexist and homophobic comments.

In a letter sent home to parents on Wednesday, Father Reilly also said the suit, filed in Manhattan state Supreme Court by a guidance counselor and two teachers alleging age discrimination, gender discrimination and religious discrimination has "no merit."

In a separate statement sent to a reporter, Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, denied that Father Reilly or anyone at the school called Lawrence Boliak, a guidance counselor and one of the plaintiffs, a "pedophile," as alleged in the suit.

He said the allegations, as reported in the media, are "absurd and strongly denied by Father Reilly and his staff."

The litigation was filed by Boliak and two teachers, Maureen Smith and Thomas Rodes, against Father Reilly; Robert Richard, a vice principal; Greg Manos, dean of men and the school's former varsity football coach; the Archdiocese of New York, the school and Cardinal Timothy Dolan. The suit brands Richard and Manos as Father Reilly's "henchmen."

"His behavior is intolerable in a civilized work setting," said Michael G. Dowd, the plantiffs' Manhattan-based lawyer in a telephone interview, referring to Father Reilly. "He goes after older faculty. He's constantly denigrating women, African-Americans and the elderly. (Father) Reilly's behavior is outrageous to any decent human being."

RAINING F-BOMBS

The plaintiffs allege Father Reilly rained f-bombs downed on teachers, commonly referred to women by a derogatory sexual term, ridiculed students and faculty suspected of being gay, and referred to an African-American teacher as one who "he would kick back to the jungle."

Richard and Manos "support, condone and mimic Father Reilly's comments," the civil complaint alleges.

The principal was "obsessed with getting rid of the older teachers," including Boliak, 67, and Rodes, 60, both of whom are ex-cops, according to the complaint and Dowd. Smith is 56, public records show.

Father Reilly was particularly harsh in speaking about an unnamed elderly teacher who had taken a few days off to undergo chemotherapy to fight cancer, alleges the complaint.

"Doesn't he know his life is over? What's he going to do next? Come in on a gurney with an I.V.? I'll have to kick him to the f---ing curb," the complaint quotes Father Reilly as allegedly saying.

Zwilling, the Archdiocese's spokesman, said officials had not yet seen the lawsuit, and based their responses on published reports and information conveyed by reporters.

He said the Archdiocese believes the "genesis" for the lawsuit stems from work rules being imposed on Boliak.

FALL INCIDENT

Zwilling said an incident occurred last fall in Boliak's office when the guidance counselor allegedly pulled down a former student's shorts in the presence of a dean.

As a result, Boliak was told not to meet students in his office, but must meet with them in a conference room with the door open, said Zwilling.

"At no time has anyone labeled him a pedophile," Zwilling.

The spokesman said the matter was referred to the Staten Island district attorney's office.

However, in a statement, prosecutors said, "The district attorney has no knowledge of this matter, and the Richmond County District Attorney's Office shows no record of having received an official referral from the Archdiocese on this incident, which would be consistent with past practice and understanding between our offices."

In his letter to parents, Father Reilly said it was unclear whether the alleged infraction would rise to the level of an offense for which Boliak, a member of the teacher's union, could be dismissed.

Dowd, the lawyer, denied anything untoward had occurred.

According to the civil complaint, Boliak was speaking with two current students and two former students in his office.

Manos entered and "starting screaming" at the former students to leave, said the complaint. Tempers flared and one of the boys "was about to go at" Manos, the complaint said.

Boliak interceded and reached for the boy's shirt, missed it, and briefly grabbed the youth's gym shorts. The shorts were never pulled down, and no skin was exposed, said the complaint.

Manos "kept screaming" and later claimed Boliak had pulled the boy's pants down, the complaint contends.

Days later, Boliak was ordered to Father Reilly's office where the principal, Manos and Richard shouted that he was a "pedophile," alleges the complaint.

Dowd said no criminal charges were ever filed against Boliak.

Besides creating a hostile work environment, the plaintiffs allege the defendants' actions offend their religious beliefs.

Rodes and Boliak were so upset they met with the archdiocese's deputy superintendent of schools in December to "vigorously" protest Father's Reilly's conduct, alleges the complaint.

The archdiocese was "grossly negligent" in allowing the priest to remain in charge of the school, the complaint contends.