Pistol Packing Priest sacked by church leaders

[Alan Fud]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/11/05/mexico.priest.reut/index.html ...

Parishioners protest firing of pistol packing priest

MEXICO CITY, Mexico (Reuters) -- Angry parishioners chained shut a church in central Mexico on Friday in protest at the sacking of their priest, whose habit of tucking a gun under his robes has earned him fame and the nickname "Padre Pistolas."

Hundreds of people from the town of Chucandiro demonstrated outside the cathedral in the city of Morelia after Catholic church leaders there defrocked their gunslinging priest, Alfredo Gallegos, local media reported.

"We have closed the church with chains and that's how it will stay until Father Alfredo comes back," protester Gilberto Moron was quoting as saying, adding that locals would accept no other priest.

Gallegos is wildly popular with parishioners but has angered his Catholic superiors with his habit of wearing a shiny pistol beneath his robes, despite strict laws in Mexico banning private citizens from carrying guns.

Also known for his love of cowboy boots and country music, Gallegos says he only carries a gun for protection, noting several of his friends have been killed over the years.

Locals say he has brought them huge social benefits, helping the marginalized and raising money for roads and hospital projects. "He has united us as a people," said Moron.

Church leaders gave no reason for sacking the priest.

 

[c_yeager]

This is an odd story. The Catholic Church has mantained time and again that self-defense to the point of lethal force is acceptable. It doesnt necessarily even have to be proportional defense. They basically mantain that you have to be reasonable. For example, shooting a man in the head who threatens you with a spoon would not be OK. But shooting and killing a man threatening you with a knife is A-OK by church law. Of course, the rules may be different for priests, and there may also be a lot more to this story than we are seeing. I hope we get some followup.

 

[ctdonath]

Christ himself made a whip and violently chased certain deserving people out of the church. He also pointed out once that He had a legion of angels at his command, thus not worrying about earthly armed adversaries. He also told His followers to buy swords upon His departure.

There is no reason to defrock a priest for being armed. Kudos to his parishioners for protesting such bureacratic BS.