Archbishop of San Antonio warns Catholics of Costa Rican cult

Nov 20, 2003 / 22:00 pm

Archbishop Patrick Flores of San Antonio is urging Catholics to stay away from Costa Rican cult in which a former San Antonio priest has taken refuge, reported the Houston Chronicle.

Three Costa Rican bishops have also denounced the Reina y Señora de Todo lo Creado (The Queen and Lady of All Creation). The bishops are suspicions concerning the validity of the apparitions, the irregularities involving the Blessed Sacrament and the unauthorized celebration of the sacraments by those who do not have the authority of the local bishop.

The group, which has ties to San Antonio, is centered around Juan Pablo Delgado, 24, who claims to receive messages from the Virgin Mary. It has a reputation for violence in Costa Rica, and its members are reportedly preparing for the end of the world in late December, said the newspaper.

Fr. Alfredo Prado, former Oblate and pastor joined the group in Costa Rica earlier this year and became the group's chief celebrant. The 73-year-old, who served in San Antonio, was stripped of his clerical authority in 1991 after disagreements over theology and allegations of sexual abuse – a charge he denies. Recently, the Oblate Fathers served final notice on Prado that he is being removed from the priesthood altogether, reported the Houston Chronicle.

The archbishop’s statement did not refer to Prado by name but it mentioned the preist's presence and his celebration of mass and other sacraments at the cult's sanctuary in San Isidro de Grecia, near San José.