This might help. A man walks into a room. He looks around, finds nothing, and turns back to leave. Strangely, the door, which he had left open, is now closed. He says, 'ianua clausa est.' What does this mean? It means 'the door is closed.' But how did it get that way? Because it also means 'the door has been closed.'
This is how my 1st year Latin teacher explained perfect passives to me many years ago.
'est' means 'is'
'clausa' means 'having been closed'
If you put them together you get a door that is in the state of 'having been closed'. A past action results in a present state.
Another good example of this is 'mortuus est.' In English is there really any difference between 'he has died' and 'he is dead?'
Translation, however, is all about context, so do what seems right. If the entire story is in the past tense, stick with it, but if someone is speaking then a present might well work.
The only thing we can guarantee when communicating via the internet is that we will be almost completely misunderstood, and likely cause great offence in doing so. Throw in an attempt at humour and you insure a lifelong enemy will be made.