Filipino priest involved in Oregon hidden camera scandal

A Filipino priest based in the U.S. is in hot water as the police investigates a hidden camera reportedly installed on the wall of the men’s bathroom inside a church in Sherwood, Oregon.

Fr. Ysrael Bien is currently on leave since June 24 after he allegedly lied to the police investigating the presence  of a camera disguised as a power outlet. The said camera is reportedly positioned at waist-level, next to the toilet bowl.

The camera was discovered by a 15-year-old parishioner of St. Francis Church in April.

According to various news reports, Bien told the teenage parishioner and his father two weeks after the camera’s discovery that he had informed the police of the incident — but later admitted that he only contacted the police on May 20 to report that the camera was missing.

In a Facebook message reportedly sent to the boy’s father, Bien detailed how his “report” to the police turned out. He appeared to have said that only his and the boy’s fingerprints were found on the camera, which makes insufficient and inconclusive evidence. He even added that either Tigard or Beaverton police departments are currently pursuing a suspect.

The priest’s “story” came as suspicious to the father so he asked for a copy of the police report.

Bien reportedly requested that they meet in person where he supposedly admitted that no reports had been made.

The Archdiocese of Portland, on June 25, said the priest had been placed on leave “out of abundance of caution not to interfere with an ongoing police investigation”; and was based on his failure to immediately report the incident upon discovery and on subsequent misleading statements he gave.

The archdiocese, however, was quick to point out that Bien has not been accused of wrongdoing nor has been named as  suspect by the police (as of this posting).

According to reports quoting Sherwood Police’s Capt. Ty Hanlon, Bien said he “delayed reporting for fear of repercussions of losing the device”.

Bien is identified by Catholic Sentinel as a Filipino priest and described by the website Vocation Boom as a priest born and raised in the Philippines.

Source: mb.com.ph