Today in Men of God: Molester Priest has legal fees paid for by the church.

He didn’t even ask. The archdiocese was just like “here’s a loan to fight these charges, even though you were caught in your underwear chasing a little boy down the street.” Just another day in the Catholic church really. Totally normal.

Last week, Oregonlive had a story about Father Angel Perez and a 12-year-old boy. The boy’s parents had given Father Angel permission to take the kid to a community event and then back to his house to sleep over.

I’m sorry….Who are these parents??? I don’t care how nice the priest is—I’m not letting my little boy sleep in his house. What, you think because he’s nice he’s not a child molester? Newsflash: If child molesters were scary they wouldn’t have any children to molest because no one would trust them. You think the parents of any child molested by a priest thought beforehand “Hm, I think this priest might be creepy…but I’ll take my chances”? Hell no! They all trusted the guy!

Anyway…the priest got drunk at the event, brought the kid home, gave him a beer, and let him fall asleep on the air mattress. Later, the kid was awakened by a flash because Father Angel had pulled off the boy’s t-shirt, pulled his underwear down, and was taking pictures with his cell phone. The kid ran until he found neighbors having a BBQ and Father Angel pursued him in a burgundy speedo.

It was close to midnight Sunday when Woodburn resident James Curths saw the 12-year-old boy running down the street toward him. Curths said the child, panting and out of breath, begged for help, telling him a man was chasing him.

Moments later, a man rounded the corner wearing only underwear. He stood a short distance away, trying to wave the boy over as Curths and his sister-in-law prepared to drive the boy to relatives.

“He was staring at us,” said Heather Rodriguez, 28, Curths’ sister-in-law, who was also outside. “Then he stood there with his hands on his hips like, ‘You’re really not going to give him to me?’”

Rodriguez and Curths, 35, told the man they were calling the police. Only then, they said, did the man jog away.

(full story)

Afterward, Father Angel drove (drunk) to the boy’s parents’ house at 2am to apologize and beg forgiveness.

Now, the archdiocese has offered Father Angel a loan to take care of his legal expenses.

Via JMG:

Archbishop John G. Vlazny approved the loan to Perez this week, Archdiocese of Portland spokesman Bud Bunce said Friday. Police said Perez chased a 12-year-old boy down a Woodburn street early Monday while dressed only in his underwear. “It’s available if he needs it,” Bunce said of the loan. Bunce said he didn’t have details on the loan or how it would work. Parishioners in Woodburn have also begun to raise money for Perez’s defense, he said.

Isn’t this a case for a public defender? Who are these people in Woodburn who are raising money to defend a priest who was caught running around drunk in his underwear after a little boy, who is terrified and saying “Father Angel touched my privates”? What is there to defend or investigate? The man went to the parents to beg forgiveness. What are you begging for if you didn’t do anything? And these people are raising money to defend him?

Portland, get it together. I am so disappointed in you!