Congregant protests 'secrecy' in priest investigation

In a Tuesday pressconference in front of the diocesan chancery, members of SurvivorsNetwork of those Abused by Priests, or SNAP, criticized the bishop'shandling of sexual abuse accusations against the Rev. Carlos Bedoya anda seminarian, David Estrada, on Oct. 4, 2006. The State Attorney'sOffice is investigating, and no one has been charged.

Ina letter to SNAP, Bishop Thomas Wenski said based on the informationprovided to him when the accusations surfaced and the presumption ofinnocence, "I believe that my actions have been appropriate."

"Iwill take further action based on the outcome of law enforcement'sinvestigation and any other factors uncovered," Wenski wrote.

Wenskialso said officials of the Diocese of Orlando, which he leads, haveoffered counseling to the accuser and are cooperating with police.

SNAPNational Director David Clohessy said Wenski and the diocese'schancellor, the Rev. Gregory Parks, should have given members of St.Clare Catholic Church in Deltona more details about why Bedoya left thechurch. They said it was due to "personal issues," Clohessy said.

"Wein SNAP are very troubled by the deception on the part of churchofficials," Clohessy said outside the downtown Orlando chancery.

NeitherWenski in his letter to SNAP nor diocese spokeswoman Carol Brinatiwould comment specifically about Clohessy's statements.

Bedoya,44, is on administrative leave and has been relieved of all diocesanresponsibilities and no longer lives on church property, Brinati saidTuesday. While the church is conducting its own investigation, it isfully cooperating with authorities to have the matter resolved, Brinatisaid.

"We don't know what is going to happen with (Bedoya)," Brinati said. "No decision has been made regarding his status."

Bedoya's attorney could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Brinati said she could not find that Estrada was ever a seminarian in the United States.

ButClohessy, from St. Louis, demanded that Wenski apologize to the St.Clare congregation. He met with Tampa SNAP leader Martha Jean Lorenzoand members of the Ormond Beach Voice of the Faithful organization anddemanded Wenski give transparency to the issue.

"Whatmakes this scandal even worse is all the secrecy in which it is beingkept," said Bob Keane, coordinator of Voice of the Faithful, addingthat his organization and SNAP have a common interest. "Our goal is toachieve a greater role for the laity in the church."

The35-year-old accuser told Volusia County sheriff's deputies that Bedoyainvited him to lunch at the priest's home on St. Clare grounds whilethe accuser was working on Oct. 4, 2006. Bedoya told the man thatEstrada, who had newly arrived from Colombia, would join them, asheriff's report said.

Whenthe accuser showed at Bedoya's residence with garlic bread and beer at2 p.m., he told Bedoya and Estrada he would rather have his beer, butafter repeated requests to have vodka cocktails, he consumed three, thereport said. The victim said he passed out and when he regained hissenses, Bedoya was holding him down on the recliner and Estradaperformed a sex act on him, the report said.

LoisMills, a parishioner at St. James Catholic Church in Orlando who knowsBedoya, said she is baffled by the reports of sexual abuse.

"He was a good priest and this makes me sad," Mills said.

patricio.balona@news-jrnl.com