2020News

Padre Chelo admits he was wrong to back pilgrimage to Puerto Plata

Padre Chelo, the Roman Catholic Church priest Rafael Delgado Suriel of the province of La Vega, blamed the police authorities that escorted Migdomio Adames as he left Villa Altagracia on his six-day trek to Puerto Plata. Diana Lora and Patricia Solano interviewed him for their talk show, La Cuestion on 28 April 2020.

The priest admitted he backed the man who was carrying a cross on his way north. When the pilgrim arrived in La Vega, the priest received him and encouraged him and he preached for people to repent.

The interview revealed that the priest continues to set a bad example for his followers. From the interview, it was apparent the influential priest had not been taking the disease seriously, nor complied with the measures ordered by the authorities, and continues to gather with his congregation while not using a facial mask.

The priest argued that Migdomio Adames was an illiterate man. But the journalists pointed out to him that Padre Chelo himself should have known better.

“We all commit errors,” said the priest in the interview. Yet, after much questioning by the journalists, he admitted: “I have to subject myself to the health system ruling; I do not know about medicine.”

Follow the story in Spanish:
La Cuestion – 28 April 2020

29 April 2020