Catholic Priests Performing Sex Act In Car Near Miami Beach Arrested, Charged

Two Catholic priests were arrested and charged after they were allegedly caught engaging in sex acts in a parked car near Miami Beach. The priests were identified as Diego Berrio, 39, and Edwin Giraldo Cortez, 30,

The duo was charged with lewd and lascivious behavior after passersby spotted them in the act in broad daylight inside a Volkswagen Beetle, which was “in full view of the public,” according to CBS Miami.

Passersby raised a complaint with the police and authorities soon arrived at the scene. According to reports, the priests were in the sexual act when police arrived. The vehicle did not have tinted windows and it became easy to spot the two inside the car.

“I parked my vehicle and approached the passenger side of the vehicle on foot,” an officer wrote on the arrest report, according to the Miami Herald. “I observed defendant Berrio in the passenger seat, performing oral sex on defendant Giraldo who was seated in the driver’s seat. Giraldo’s pants were unzipped and his genitals exposed.”

According to CBS Miami, the duo was so engaged in the act that they did not notice police had surrounded their vehicle.

ABC-affiliated television station WPLG reported both Berrio and Cortez are from Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Berrio is a priest at Mission of San Juan Diego, while Cortez served at the St. Aloysius Parish in Chicago. They were removed from the ministry after the incident came to light.

“Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has removed Fr. Berrio from ministry and withdrawn his faculties to minister in the Archdiocese of Chicago, effective immediately,” a statement read. “The archdiocese will appoint an administrator for the Mission San Juan Diego as soon as possible.”

Anne Maselli, a spokeswoman for the Archdiocese of Chicago, told WPLG: “It is our responsibility to ensure those who serve our people are fit for ministry. We take this matter very seriously.”

On Tuesday, police released Berrio while Cortez remained in custody, according to WPLG.