This story first crossed my blog back in August 2012 [see
post HERE] and now it looks like we have resolution. The back story?
Last summer the Reverend Angel Armando Perez was accused of
sexually abusing a 12-year-old boy during an overnight stay, and when the
boy escaped the good reverend’s home, Perez, wearing just his underwear, chased
him down the street. The boy ran into the yard of James
Curths who called the police and the boy’s family.
Perez was arrested, charged with first-degree sexual abuse,
driving intoxicated and furnishing alcohol to a minor, and this week he accepted
a plea agreement and will spend the next six years in prison. The additional
charges of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct and tampering
with evidence were dismissed. He must also register as a sex offender. In
addition, Perez, who has a green card for legal residence as a minister of
religion, could face deportation to Mexico, though it remains unclear if this
will happen.
So, it seems like justice was served, no? I mean, the family
of the boy seems happy with the verdict; they feel it was just. But, um, that
bastion of pedophilia, the Catholic Church, which paid for Perez’ defense, has
yet to decide whether or not they should fire the priest.
Yes, they’re investigating the story themselves before they make
a decision on whether to fire a man who has accepted a plea agreement in the case
where he tried to take nude pictures of a twelve-year-old boy that he’d gotten
drunk in his apartment.
In a statement, the Archdiocese of Portland asked for
prayers for the victim, his family and the parishioners at St. Luke as well as
asking for prayers for Perez's family and friends. Prayers for forgiveness also
were requested.
Forgive? Perhaps. Forget? How can we forget when it seems
every other day a Catholic priest, or even a Cardinal, is arrested for
molesting children. Rather than loan cash to pedophiles to mount a defense for
their indefensible actions, why doesn’t the Catholic Church stand up for the
children?
In that way, the Church continues the molestation.
thanx for the update :-)
ReplyDeleteBob,
ReplyDeleteI just don't understand the Catholic Church's position on sexual predators. While I'm not Catholic, I always respected priests but not now. It's a shame because most of them are probably good and decent men but how the church continues to waffle on handling egregious cases like this is baffling to me. It is a sad story all the way around.
Ron
Retired in Delaware
I wondered what happened to him. At least where he is he'll have a good chance of serving that full sentence. I shudder to think how early he'd get out if this happened where I live.
ReplyDeletekeep it on the DL, hush it up, stick your head in the sand, and the problem goes away...NOT!
ReplyDeletebiggest buncha bastards EVAH!
Having been a regular reader, I've often thought of commenting as I will here, regarding abuses and cover-ups perpetrated by Catholic clerics.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your ability to report on these horrific events with some degree of depth while calling people out with appropriate outrage and anger.
I have encountered other blogs whose authors report on such stories and resort to name-calling and spewing vitriol toward the RC Church or other religions, usually without adding any thought to the "discussion" - and in doing so weaken their justified anger and their credibility because that is their entire motive.
I know you are no fan of the Catholic Church. But there are many, very many, LGBT persons who grew up in the Catholic Church and still have a strong bond with its most basic virtues of charity and mercy. Consider a child who has been nurtured and sustained by a parent who, their adult child finds out later, was capable of evil doings. It is not a simple thing to deal with.
So continue to be a herald of truth and with some sensitivity, keep in mind those of us who may still feel some love toward an abusive parent.
As LGBT persons we need not alienate one another.
@Frank
ReplyDeleteI respect Catholics, it's the Church, and their systematic abuse, and ensuing cover-up, while keeping pedophiles on the payroll, that most gets me, um, annoyed, shall we say.
And I understand people, some people, can separate their Catholic faith, from the doings of the Church.
My vitriol is reserved for the Church and those who continue to do the bidding of child rapists and the like.
What is up with the catholic church and pedophiles? I would have thought they might have learned a lesson, and turned over a new leaf what with all these court cases these last few years. Sigh....
ReplyDelete