OREGON
Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests
For immediate release: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015
Statement by David Clohessy of St. Louis, director of SNAP, the Survivors Network of those abused by Priests (314 566 9790, davidgclohessy@gmail.com)
An abuse and cover up suit against the Portland archdiocese and a convicted predator priest has settled. We deplore the secrecy surrounding this case.
The cleric, Fr. Angel Armando Perez, was the only priest ordained in the archdiocese in 2002.
We fully understand why the young boy’s family would not want to take this case to trial. The parents are surely most concerned with the emotional well-being and recovery of their wounded child.
That said, however, we are sad that apparently no records about Fr. Perez, and his church supervisors and colleagues who may have hidden his crimes, will be disclosed. And the amount of the settlement, which might deter future recklessness and callousness and deceit by other church officials, remains secret.
We hope Portland Catholic officials will honor their repeated pledges to be “open and transparent” about clergy sex crimes and cover ups by being more forthcoming about this case and others.
When Fr. Perez was criminally charged, the Oregonian reported that “The Archdiocese of Portland offered an open-ended loan to the Rev. Angel Armando Perez to cover the legal fees of (his expensive defense lawyer).” We hope Portland area Catholics will insist that Archbishop Alexander Sample divulge whether this “loan” has been or is being repaid or not.
When this suit was filed, church spokesman Bud Bunce referred to Fr. Perez’ crimes as “misconduct.”
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