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Catholic priest suspended after advising parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels

DiipuSurotu

DiipuSurotu

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Oct 25, 2017
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Mexico's Roman Catholic Church has suspended a controversial priest who has advised parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels. Better known as "Father Pistolas," Rev. Alfredo Gallegos is a priest in the violence-plagued western state of Michoacan who has himself sometimes carried a weapon.
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The order, dated Sept. 21, did not specify a reason for the indefinite suspension imposed earlier that month, saying only that Gallegos "had been admonished on several occasions" for something.
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Even for Michoacan, it was surprising when the Rev. Gallegos called from the pulpit in 2021 for parishioners to arm themselves against warring drug gangs.

"The cartel gunmen come, they take the livestock, they screw your wife and daughter, and you do nothing," the Rev. Alfredo Gallegos said in a sermon. "Well, get yourself a gun, the government can go to hell."

"We have to defend our lives," Gallegos continued.
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Mexican law forbids most civilians from owning almost all firearms, except for extremely low caliber hunting rifles or shotguns.

But Michoacan has a history of armed civilian "self defense" vigilante militia movements dating from 2013 and 2014. Back then vigilantes managed to chase the dominant Knights Templar cartel out, but rival cartels like the Viagras and the Jalisco cartel have moved in. Kidnappings, killings and shootings have prompted thousands to flee their homes.
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In June, two priests and a tour guide were gunned down in a church in Mexico.
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More at:
www.cbsnews.com

Mexican priest known as "Father Pistolas" suspended after he advised parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels

"Get yourself a gun, the government can go to hell," the Rev. Alfredo Gallegos said in a sermon.
www.cbsnews.com www.cbsnews.com

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mbpm

mbpm

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Oct 25, 2017
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Knights Templar cartel

In any case this seems like an extreme situation. Not sure what options there are really for defense
 

Deleted member 171

Oct 25, 2017
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I mean, yeah, I kinda get it, but shit's out of control there.
 
Chromie

Chromie

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monsignor-martinez-king-of-the-hill.gif
 
Hollywood Duo

Hollywood Duo

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Oct 25, 2017
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I thought it was gonna be some Florida chud but in this instance I totally get it. The priest is supposed to be a leader of the community.
 
I am a Bird

I am a Bird

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Oct 31, 2017
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I gotta say, getting in a shootout with the cartel seems like the last thing I wanna do, and probably would be.
 
Nepenthe

Nepenthe

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Oct 25, 2017
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ItWasMeantToBe19 said:
While I think this priest sounds pretty stupid in advocating his followers do actions that could get them imprisoned, the poster you're quoting is obviously saying that the Catholic church should focus more on suspending pedophiles than suspending this guy.
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That's a fairer reading. I thought he was criticize the priest himself.

napkins said:
choosing to be a catholic priest is kind of an endorsement for how the church operates
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Not necessarily. But the point I was gauging at was that while institutions that protect abusers are not okay, the point of this story would remain no matter what the occupation of this dude actually was. He's been confronted with the horrors of the cartel and his speaking out about what civilians can do to protect themselves got him fired for it. Pivoting the thread then to the issues of his occupation regardless of whether or not he is individually responsible for those issues' perpetuation, to me, is downplaying the importance of those affected by cartel violence including, ironically, children.

But again, this is all under the assumption that that post was a critique of the priest and not the Catholic Church as a whole.
 
Sirhc

Sirhc

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Oct 27, 2017
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I can't really condemn or endore this as I don't have enough lived perspective on their situation there...

But Father Pistolas is a badass nickname, god damn.
 
Lobster Roll

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I can't imagine the horrific things the cartel would do to ordinary people who decided to pull a gun on them.
 

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Oct 25, 2017
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Porygon said:
What do you mean with "there"?
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The cartels in certain parts of Mexico? Apologies if that's insensitive.

"But Michoacan has a history of armed civilian "self defense" vigilante militia movements dating from 2013 and 2014. Back then vigilantes managed to chase the dominant Knights Templar cartel out, but rival cartels like the Viagras and the Jalisco cartel have moved in. Kidnappings, killings and shootings have prompted thousands to flee their homes." That... kinda speaks to what I meant.
 
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