Filipino priest accused of molesting boys goes missing

MANILA, Philippines — A Filipino priest in Texas under investigation for allegedly molesting boys and stealing from his parish has gone missing.

The Dallas Morning News reported that St. Cecilia Catholic Church officials believed that Rev. Edmundo Paredes may have fled to the Philippines.

Paredes, a pastor for 27 years at the St. Cecilia Church in the Oak Cliff community, has fled Texas. His whereabouts are unknown.

“We believe that he returned to the Philippines. We have contacted authorities from the Philippines but they don’t know his location. We are in the process of hiring a private investigator to locate him,” St. Cecilia’s Bishop Edward Burns said.

Burns said the Dallas police have found the sexual abuse allegations to be credible.

Paredes is no longer allowed to present himself as a priest, Burns added.

A CBS News report said that in May 2017, the church first began investigating Paredes over allegations that he stole $60,000 to $80,000 in cash from the parish. 

Burns said Paredes admitted to the financial misconduct and was suspended from the ministry and removed from the church in June 2017.

Last February, the Catholic Diocese of Dallas received complaints that Paredes had molested three boys.

Burns encouraged anyone else who may have been sexually assaulted by Paredes to come out.