No, not for an abuse defense. For a real estate deal gone bad.

A Belleville Diocese priest facing a $650,000 judgment over a real estate venture gone bad is now soliciting funds from the general public to pay his mounting legal bills.

The diocese is letting parishioners know the effort started without the bishop’s knowledge and does not have his blessing.

The Rev. Leo J. Hayes — pastor of St. Elizabeth’s Church in Ava and author of “Evil in Mirror Lake” — requested the donations to pay for his legal, accounting, research and investigative expenses. The costs stem from Hayes’ legal dealings in a 6-year-old case still pending in a Missouri court.

Good God, don’t these guys have sick to visit and dying to attend to and a Gospel to preach? Shouldn’t that keep them busy enough?