Mexican church suspends priest who advised carrying guns
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s Catholic Church has suspended a controversial priest who has advised parishioners to carry guns to fight off drug cartels.
Better known as “Father Pistolas,” Father Alfredo Gallegos is a priest in the violence-plagued western state of Michoacan who has himself sometimes carried a weapon.
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Even for Michoacan, it was surprising when 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,” Gallegos said in a sermon. ”Well, get yourself a gun, the government can go to hell.”
“We have to defend our lives,” Gallegos continued.