Catholics across the area wrestled with sadness, disappointment and outright anger after last week's raid on the Dallas diocese, which police say hasn't fully cooperated with a sexual abuse investigation.

The news was devastating to Becky Autrey, a 30-year member of North Dallas' St. Rita Catholic Community who was already struggling with her feelings about the church.

"I think this has lost me for good," she said. "I really don't have that deep faith anymore."

But the Rev. Martin Moreno told parishioners Sunday at the packed St. Cecilia Catholic Church that the raids shouldn't shake their beliefs.

"If this news means you have to go, then leave already," he said. "Those of us that remain will have true faith."

The Oak Cliff church was one of the places authorities raided Wednesday, but Moreno said he wasn't worried.

"Everything that I have, I have given police," he said. "The peace that comes from transparency, nobody can take that from you."

Police say the diocese has hidden records of complaints about priests, including former St. Cecilia pastor Rev. Edmundo Paredes.

Even as some say the new developments continue to test their beliefs, there are Catholics who say the church needs their support more than ever during this latest crisis, expressing almost familial obligations.

"I still don't know what to believe," said Manuel Alvarez, 38, a member of St. Cecilia's who was married by Paredes. He said last week that he had never sensed anything inappropriate in the 19 years he has been attending.

Although the church often faces charges of corruption, Alvarez said, "that's not going to stop me from bringing my family every Sunday. ... We all stumble, and there are problems in every church. I'm a Catholic. I have faith."

But Autrey, like others, lamented that the explanations coming from church leaders "did not give me the solace that I needed."

"It's been really devastating for me because I've been so true to the faith," said Autrey, 59, who had served as a Eucharistic minister at St. Rita.

She said her pastor has said things will be fine after all the information comes out.

"But it still doesn't erase what happened," Autrey said. "What angers me more than the evil of it is the lying and the cover-up. That's even more vile than the actual act."

The Rev. Edmundo Paredes is named on the Dallas Diocese's list of the "credibly accused." He went missing last year and is believed to have fled the country. (DMN file photo)

Dallas police conducted Wednesday's raid after an investigator said church officials had "thwarted" his investigation of accusations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests.

Saying in a search warrant affidavit that he had unearthed new allegations, Detective David Clark said the diocese had turned over incomplete records and made it impossible for police to know whether the claims had been fully examined.

The news deepened cynicism and disillusionment among Catholics such as Dallas' Tony Rios, a recent member of St. Cecilia's who said secrecy is "ingrained in the culture of the church," and Kevin Jerpi, of Red Oak, who said he was disgusted by the news.

"They found the sinners and should prosecute those devils that continue to protect their own," Rios said.

Jerpi attended St. Luke Catholic Church in Irving during the tenure of Rudy Kos, the former priest convicted in the late 1990s of molesting altar boys in three parishes and sentenced to life in prison.

"No matter how much 'transparency' the church says they are giving, this just goes to show it's the same old song and dance," Jerpi said. "All of them will face the Lord's wrath when their time comes."

Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns called the raid unnecessary, saying the diocese had complied with state laws regarding reporting claims of abuse and denying that church officials had concealed relevant documents.

But Jerpi said he remains skeptical: "Maybe they shouldn't be so defiant about this and show some humility, as well as some concern for the victims."

Disgraced priest Rudy Kos, shown in 1998, was sentenced to life in prison for molesting altar boys at three parishes. (David Woo/Staff Photographer)

Barbara Kennedy, of Garland, repeatedly used one word to describe herself: angry. Having converted to Catholicism at age 18, the 72-year-old said she has probably attended every parish in North Texas but recently stopped going to Mass because of the church's sexual misconduct scandals.

The final straw for her was last year's report that Catholic priests had abused more than 1,000 children in Pennsylvania over a 70-year period.

"I have to take my stand and be vocal about it," Kennedy said. "Enough is enough. They have to show us some meaningful reform."

Accountability was paramount for many who weighed in.

Maryn Taylor, 39, converted to Catholicism in elementary school and raises her family in the church at St. Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell. She said she finds it hypocritical that parishioners are expected to confess their sins while the church itself grapples with transparency.

"It is difficult when the leaders of our church are supposed to be the representation of Christ on Earth to us, but their behavior doesn't reflect that," Taylor said.

Vanessa Serrano, who attended noon Mass at Dallas' Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Thursday, said it's shocking to see the church under distress and hoped the investigation was fair and unbiased.

"We've been attacked for this many times already," Serrano said. "I definitely understand wanting to get transparency and all of the information, so I think it's fine if that's the goal."

Likewise, Texas A&M student Chris Tarantino, who attended an evening service Wednesday at St. Rita, where several priests the church has said were "credibly accused" had been assigned, said he wasn't happy about "government interference" in the church but understood that "police gotta do what they gotta do."

"What I always hear from priests is that it's above their pay grade and that all they can do is pray and hope the higher-ups do their jobs," he said.

While many might feel upset, some, such as Annette Hunt of Dallas, say times like these are when the faithful need to step up and offer their support to the Catholic Church.

"This is ... [the church's] time of need and we should be there for our parishes, just like we expect them to be there for us in our time of need," said Hunt, who attends St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church and planned to be at Sunday Mass, as always.

Hunt said she returned to the church after the Kos molestation case in the late 1990s "because I believe the church needs us now more than ever."

She has shared her experience at the "Catholics Come Home" sessions her parish conducts every Christmas season for people who are considerering a return to the faith.

"I understand why some people feel like they need to leave, that they're not comfortable with what's going on, but ironically they're the people we need to stay," Hunt said. "You can be upset and angry at the administration of the church and still have a faith life through and with the church."

1 / 6Law enforcement officials conducted a raid of the Catholic Diocese of Dallas on Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have "thwarted" his investigations into allegations of sexual abuse by priests. Dallas Bishop Edward J. Burns said at an afternoon news conference that the diocese had given personnel files "for all the priests named in the warrant" and had been has been cooperating with the police requests. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) 2 / 6Officials are conducting a raid on the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. Since a police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Major Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) 3 / 6Dallas police officials cart out boxes from a raid on the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. Since a police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Major Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) 4 / 6Dallas police officials load out boxes from a raid on the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. Since a police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Major Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) 5 / 6Dallas police officials cart out boxes from a raid on the Catholic Diocese of Dallas, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. Since a police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Major Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer) 6 / 6Students walking home from school pass by a Dallas police car blocking the Catholic Diocese of Dallas parking garage, Wednesday, May 15, 2019. Dallas police officers on Wednesday morning raided several Dallas Catholic Diocese offices after a detective said church officials have not cooperated with investigations into sexual abuse by its past clergy members. Since a police investigation began last fall, at least five new allegations of sexual abuse have surfaced within the Catholic Diocese, according to Major Max Geron, who oversees the special investigations division. (Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News)(Tom Fox / Staff Photographer)

Hunt didn't care for the latest response from Burns, the bishop, describing it as "bad, defensive communication that the church doesn't need."

On Wednesday, in his homily at St. Cecilia, Moreno, the reverend, called for parishioners to remain strong in their faith.

"It's time to raise our voices as Catholics and say who we are," he said. "Our church has survived, survives, will survive. Nothing that happens will destroy her."

Staff writers Sarah Sarder, Sara Coello, LaVendrick Smith and Jesus Jimenez contributed to this report.