Ban All Faggots
2018-08-21 20:07:36 UTC
A Catholic priest in Dallas who has been accused of molesting
young boys and stealing from the parish has disappeared, church
officials announced.
Rev. Edmundo Paredes, a longtime pastor at St. Cecilia Catholic
Church, is accused of having molested teenage boys an
allegation Dallas police have found to be credible, Bishop
Edward Burns, of the Dallas diocese, said.
Burns informed church members of Paredes' disappearance during
Sunday's mass, the Dallas News reported. Church officials said
he could have fled the U.S. for the Philippines, his native
country.
Paredes had already been suspended from St. Cecilia Catholic
Church and removed from its ministry in June 2017, according to
Burns. At the time, he was accused of stealing $60,000 to
$80,000 from the parish. Paredes admitted to the financial
misconduct.
In February, church officials were informed Paredes allegedly
molested at least three teenage boys during his time at the
church where he was pastor for 27 years, according to the
Dallas News.
I recognize this diocese cannot cover its ears, its eyes, its
mouth. We need to look at this head on.
- Bishop Edward Burns
Church officials havent disclosed the exact time when the
alleged molestations occurred but have said they reportedly took
place more than a decade ago.
CLERGY SEX ABUSE HAS COST CATHOLIC CHURCH $3 BILLION IN
SETTLEMENTS
The Catholic Diocese of Dallas wasnt aware of the sexual
assault allegations at the time of his suspension for financial
misconduct, a spokeswoman said. But the church is under fire for
just now disclosing the allegations to its members.
Why would Bishop Burns suppress this crucial information? Was
it to protect the diocese from scandal? Lisa Kendzior and Paul
Petersen, local chapter leaders of the Survivors Network of
Those Abused by Priests, said in a statement. What about
concern for the safety of children and the need to comfort any
survivors? Where is the transparency that the Catholic bishops
promised?
A spokeswoman told The Associated Press the allegations werent
made public earlier because officials did not want to hinder the
police investigation or compromise the victims identities.
Hundreds of priests sexually abused thousands of children while
the church covered it up for decades, according to the state
grand jury; Lauren Green reports on the results of the 18-month
investigation.
While he had been removed from ministry last year, church
members told the Dallas News they believed, until Sunday,
Paredes was still living on church grounds. The church had a
celebratory mass for Paredes in June 2017, which was reportedly
referred to as a retirement celebration.
POPE FRANCIS, ADDRESSING CATHOLIC CHURCH SEX ABUSE SCANDAL, BEGS
FOR FORGIVENESS, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY
Burns said he consulted with the Diocesan Review Board, a group
of non-clergy Catholics who counsel the diocese on matters
involving the sexual abuse of minors, before revealing the
allegations to the church. According to the Dallas News, last
weeks bombshell grand jury report that claimed hundreds of
priests molested more than 1,000 children at least in
Pennsylvania was a catalyst to Burns being forthcoming.
I need to come face-to-face with the frustration. I need to
come face-to-face with this issue, with the anger, with the
rage, Burns told the Dallas News. I recognize this diocese
cannot cover its ears, its eyes, its mouth. We need to look at
this head on.
HUNDREDS OF PRIESTS SEXUALLY ABUSED MORE THAN A THOUSAND
CHILDREN, PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS
Rev. Martin Moreno, St. Cecilia Catholic Churchs current
pastor, also promised Sunday he would do anything I can with my
own life to protect his parishioners.
The actions of one person do not represent the entire clergy of
Dallas, he said.
The Catholic Church is hiring private investigators to find
Paredes, Burns said.
Clergy sex abuse scandals have reportedly cost the Catholic
Church more than $3 billion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/21/catholic-priest-accused-
sexually-abusing-teen-boys-has-disappeared-church-says.html
young boys and stealing from the parish has disappeared, church
officials announced.
Rev. Edmundo Paredes, a longtime pastor at St. Cecilia Catholic
Church, is accused of having molested teenage boys an
allegation Dallas police have found to be credible, Bishop
Edward Burns, of the Dallas diocese, said.
Burns informed church members of Paredes' disappearance during
Sunday's mass, the Dallas News reported. Church officials said
he could have fled the U.S. for the Philippines, his native
country.
Paredes had already been suspended from St. Cecilia Catholic
Church and removed from its ministry in June 2017, according to
Burns. At the time, he was accused of stealing $60,000 to
$80,000 from the parish. Paredes admitted to the financial
misconduct.
In February, church officials were informed Paredes allegedly
molested at least three teenage boys during his time at the
church where he was pastor for 27 years, according to the
Dallas News.
I recognize this diocese cannot cover its ears, its eyes, its
mouth. We need to look at this head on.
- Bishop Edward Burns
Church officials havent disclosed the exact time when the
alleged molestations occurred but have said they reportedly took
place more than a decade ago.
CLERGY SEX ABUSE HAS COST CATHOLIC CHURCH $3 BILLION IN
SETTLEMENTS
The Catholic Diocese of Dallas wasnt aware of the sexual
assault allegations at the time of his suspension for financial
misconduct, a spokeswoman said. But the church is under fire for
just now disclosing the allegations to its members.
Why would Bishop Burns suppress this crucial information? Was
it to protect the diocese from scandal? Lisa Kendzior and Paul
Petersen, local chapter leaders of the Survivors Network of
Those Abused by Priests, said in a statement. What about
concern for the safety of children and the need to comfort any
survivors? Where is the transparency that the Catholic bishops
promised?
A spokeswoman told The Associated Press the allegations werent
made public earlier because officials did not want to hinder the
police investigation or compromise the victims identities.
Hundreds of priests sexually abused thousands of children while
the church covered it up for decades, according to the state
grand jury; Lauren Green reports on the results of the 18-month
investigation.
While he had been removed from ministry last year, church
members told the Dallas News they believed, until Sunday,
Paredes was still living on church grounds. The church had a
celebratory mass for Paredes in June 2017, which was reportedly
referred to as a retirement celebration.
POPE FRANCIS, ADDRESSING CATHOLIC CHURCH SEX ABUSE SCANDAL, BEGS
FOR FORGIVENESS, DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY
Burns said he consulted with the Diocesan Review Board, a group
of non-clergy Catholics who counsel the diocese on matters
involving the sexual abuse of minors, before revealing the
allegations to the church. According to the Dallas News, last
weeks bombshell grand jury report that claimed hundreds of
priests molested more than 1,000 children at least in
Pennsylvania was a catalyst to Burns being forthcoming.
I need to come face-to-face with the frustration. I need to
come face-to-face with this issue, with the anger, with the
rage, Burns told the Dallas News. I recognize this diocese
cannot cover its ears, its eyes, its mouth. We need to look at
this head on.
HUNDREDS OF PRIESTS SEXUALLY ABUSED MORE THAN A THOUSAND
CHILDREN, PENNSYLVANIA ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS
Rev. Martin Moreno, St. Cecilia Catholic Churchs current
pastor, also promised Sunday he would do anything I can with my
own life to protect his parishioners.
The actions of one person do not represent the entire clergy of
Dallas, he said.
The Catholic Church is hiring private investigators to find
Paredes, Burns said.
Clergy sex abuse scandals have reportedly cost the Catholic
Church more than $3 billion.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2018/08/21/catholic-priest-accused-
sexually-abusing-teen-boys-has-disappeared-church-says.html