There is no fear of God: They denounce two fake priests who charge up to $600 for religious ceremonies in California homes or parks

Crime has a thousand faces and it is not known when the hare can jump and the person is left innocent, involved in an irregularity. Two guys are running a scam in California, pretending to be priests. They really have no fear of God; shame, less.

A diocese in California, Stockton, reported via Univision News that at least two men are making money by defrauding parishioners.

These guys say they are from Mexico and can hold ceremonies in that state of the United States. Thus, they manage to charge high dollar amounts by tricking families into believing that their “ceremonies” of baptisms, first communions and confirmations, and masses of all kinds are real.

5 Steps to Identify a False Religious

The Church learned of the presence of these impostors because a family called the Diocese of Stockton to ask “if it was okay for them to charge them $600 for the Masses they would perform at a residence.”

The question triggered the alerts and the entire community was informed of what was happening so that more people did not fall into the hands of these scammers.

The false priests asked for birth certificates

Lourdes Arvizu, representative of the aforementioned diocese, told Univision News: “We realized this because they called us to ask if it was okay for first communions and confirmations to be celebrated in homes or parks.”

The person, Arvizu said, also wanted to know if the ceremonies had all the authority, the permission, “because there are some priests coming from Mexico.”

The impostors “dress like bishops and have false identities,” the American network said in its report.

What permission?’ The diocese reacted with alarm. “We have no information about that.”

The family soon realized the scam and raised concerns with authorities because the fake priests were “asking for birth certificates.”

With these documents, they indicated on October 24, 2023 from Noticias Univisión that “criminals can steal identities or smuggle people.”

The affected family said that when they questioned the priests about their identities, they threatened to sue them for defamation.

Background in Caracas, Venezuela

Six months ago, the Archdiocese of Caracas, Venezuela, issued a statement denouncing a man posing as a priest.

Fake priests conducted baptisms and weddings in a private club in Venezuela: what about the celebrations of the sacraments?

He said that, dressed in alb and chasuble, he performed baptisms and wedding ceremonies at the Los Cortijos Country Club, in the municipality of Sucre, as well as in other party houses.

In view of the delicate irregularity, the Chancellery of the Caracas Church reminded the entire parish that, by express order of the Archbishop, Cardinal Baltazar Porras, the celebration of any sacrament in clubs and party rooms was prohibited.

(JO)