UPDATED::Priest took more than $250K from 'grandmas' at wealthy church, authorities say | NJ.com

UPDATE::  Archdiocese officials knew priest was 'milking' people for money, clergyman says

The revelation raises questions about whether church officials missed an opportunity to rein in Orozco before he allegedly accepted money from other parishioners, who say he lied to them and fed them financial sob stories, taking advantage of their generosity and wealth.

"It bothered me so much when I was informed he was taking this money," said the priest, the pastor of a different church at the time. "I was furious.

 

He called them his grandmas.

The Rev. Alex Orozco befriended the elderly women shortly after his assignment to St. Rose of Lima parish in Short Hills.

Orozco was a new priest, charming and kind and afire with enthusiasm.

And always, it seemed, willing to accept money, parishioners said.

For a car. For a big-screen TV. For a house in the Poconos. For another house in his native Colombia. For credit card bills. For a second car. For plane tickets. For furniture. For dental work.

From 2013 through the end of last year, Orozco allegedly took more than $250,000 in cash and goods from women in the wealthy parish after telling them hard-luck stories about the financial woes afflicting him, his family members and his friends.
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Orozco's attorney, Edmund DeNoia, said the priest "unequivocally denies" he engaged in wrongdoing at St. Rose.

"To the contrary, he is and has always been a hardworking, compassionate and dedicated priest," DeNoia said in an emailed statement.

"There have been no criminal charges filed against Fr. Alex," DeNoia said, "and we firmly believe that any investigation into Fr. Alex's actions will result in his good name and reputation being cleared."

DeNoia did not respond to a follow-up question about whether Orozco reported the money he accepted on his income tax returns.

Priest took more than $250K from 'grandmas' at wealthy church, authorities say | NJ.com