The Deacon's Bench
Didn’t anyone ask this guy for papers or references?
He’s known as “Father Erwin Mena”.
Since the mid 1990’s he’s been celebrating mass at Catholic churches throughout California. He’s held prayer meetings, paid counseling sessions and nights of confession in the dioceses of San Bernardino, Stockton, Orange, and Fresno.
But he’s not really a priest. His real name is Erwin Arnaldo Menacastro, 49 years old. Detectives say he’s a fake wanted by the LAPD for swindling thousands of dollars from believers.
Read more and get a glimpse of him here.
Can. 903 A priest is to be permitted to celebrate even if the rector of the church does not know him, provided that either he presents a letter of introduction from his ordinary or superior, issued at least within the year, or it can be judged prudently that he is not impeded from celebrating.
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