The Diocese of Aguascalientes (Mexico) warned about alleged Catholic events that are held in the region, “in which people are summoned to be miraculously healed or released from the power of the devil” by “men who simulate being priests.”
Through A statement Shared on June 30, the Mexican bishopric informed that in recent months they have been promoted “in a furtive way and apart from any ecclesiastical authority: masses, holy hours, rosaries, encounters, retreats; etc.”. These acts, said the diocese, “people are summoned to be miraculously healed or released from the power of the devil.”
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According to the diocese, the calls are usually headed by “priests of other dioceses, which have been sanctioned for serious and proven offenses through due canonical criminal proceedings. Even the case, men who simulate being priests and pretend the celebration of the sacraments” have even been appropriate.
They urge the sick not to attend
The local church made a specific call to people with health, physical or emotional problems, not to attend. He warned that many of these people, “in their despair, let themselves be convinced that all their problems will be solved in these events.”
The diocese regretted that cases have been reported in which patients abandon their medical treatments “because in these encounters they have told them that they do not need them, because whoever causes them evil is the devil and consequently the only thing indispensable is faith and prayer, some of these patients have died due to progress without control of the disease lacking medical support.”
Given these facts, he said that “this type of event is absolutely unaware of, and totally demarcates from any responsibility.” He also warned the faithful about this type of fraud “to use the name of the Catholic Church deceive people, with the sole intention of obtaining an economic gain.”
“To the whole society in general, Catholics and not Catholics, we invite you to collaborate with us, not participating in these acts of religious corruption, which play with the good faith of people, deceiving and scamming them,” says the statement.
A constant warning
It is not the first time that the diocese issues a warning of this type. In May, he denounced an event held in Aguascalientes by Bernardo Moncada, a priest originally from Colombia who, according to the statement, faces a canonical criminal process in the Diocese of León (Nicaragua) for crimes such as “abuse of consciousness, abuse against minors, simony and persistent attitude of rebellion to his own bishop and any legitimate authority”.
Along with the June 30 statement, the bishopric reported the presence by Alfredo Cabral Fernández, who also presents himself as a priest and who “has dedicated himself to carrying out healing and liberation events, in different parts of the country, using the name of the Church. But always against the will and knowledge of the bishops of each place.”
According to the statement, Cabral Fernández “was expelled from the Congregation of the Legionaries of Christ, when it is verified that it possesses serious doctrinal difficulties for the ministerial exercise.”
The Diocese stressed that “he does not know” and “reproves her behavior, which seriously damages the ecclesial communion.” In addition, he warned that this person intends to carry out new events under the title “Healing and Liberation Retirement”, which are announced outside the parish scope and without any official approval.
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.