Parishioners Protest Bishop in Aguascalientes Over Priest's Dismissal
Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Dozens of parishioners protested outside the Aguascalientes Cathedral, demanding justice for a recently dismissed priest, Porfirio Galindo.
- The protesters accused the bishop of committing an injustice against the priest, whom they described as congruent with Catholic principles and a unifier of the faithful.
- They called for transparency regarding the reasons for Father Galindo's dismissal and demanded his return to his pastoral mission.
Dozens of faithful gathered outside the Aguascalientes Cathedral, their shouts and jostling disrupting the solemnity of the Virgen de la Asunciรณn festivities. They demanded justice for Father Porfirio Galindo, the former parish priest of Santo Toribio Romo, who was recently suspended from his pastoral duties. The protesters confronted Bishop Juan Espinoza Jimรฉnez as he arrived to celebrate Mass, holding signs that read "That is a bishop's charity" and "We want Father Porfirio back." They insisted that an injustice had been committed against a man they described as congruent with Catholic principles and who had united many people in faith. "They suspended him from his priestly mission," the parishioners stated, demanding that the clergy transparently explain the motives behind Father Galindo's dismissal. They pressed for a public accounting of any alleged offense or crime that led to his punishment. A group of priests flanked the bishop, physically blocking the protesters and reportedly pushing reporters covering the event, preventing any direct confrontation or immediate explanation from the religious authority.
Originally published by El Universal in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.