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Aug 11, 2008 6:24 pm US/Central
Dallas Diocese Warns Of 'Fake Mexican Bishop'
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
North Texas Catholics are being warned about a man the diocese says is administering sacraments for money.
Monday the Roman Catholic Diocese of Dallas issued an advisory to the community.
Church leaders in Dallas received a phone call warning of a possible impersonator in the area. In a press release statement
Bishop Kevin Farrell said, "I have just been informed by the Archbishop of Acapulco, Mexico that a man named Martin Davila Gandara is operating within the Diocese of Dallas as a Catholic bishop but indeed is not a Roman Catholic bishop nor is he in communion with the Roman Catholic Church."
According to the diocese Gandara is operating in Dallas with another man who claims to be a priest from Mexico.
Local church leaders received a report from one woman who said she became concerned when she was invited to participate in a church service held at a hotel.
Another person informed staff members at the Cathedral Shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe that she heard a visiting Mexican bishop would, "perform sacraments such as Baptisms, First Communions and Confirmations for a charge of $100 to $200."
Sacraments are different blessings, vows and administered activities that are considered most holy and sacred.
The diocese got word that 100 babies were reportedly baptized by the man on Sunday at a motel in Plano. He charged up to $200 per baptism.
"People should beware of anyone who performs a celebration of sacraments that is not in one of our parishes. Roman Catholic sacraments are administered in the parish. Also, our priests do not charge for sacraments," said Sister Guadalupe Ramirez, of the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence and the Director of Catechetical Services for the Diocese of Dallas.
Exceptions for giving a sacrament outside of a church are only made in cases of emergency – such as being given to a hospital patient.
The diocese does not know what the man looks like or if he's still in the area but they say they want parishioners to just realize he isn't who he says he is.
Diocese officials say Gandara may be a priest or even a bishop, but he is not a Roman Catholic bishop.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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