A “saint” with a very bad reputation
The Prosecutor’s Office of the State of Mexico, in a rare moment of efficiency (perhaps because the case involved someone in a cassock), managed to apprehend priest Antonio María Cabrera, a member of the Legionaries of Christ and, of course, close to the late and controversial Marcial Maciel. What better resume for a man of God, right? The accused, who in addition to preaching morality directed the Faculty of Bioethics (because irony is an art), is accused of multiple sexual abuses against a minor between 2004 and 2011. Come on, a true professional of sin.
The capture: when justice arrives… late, but it arrives
Cabrera, who surely thought that his clerical status protected him, was captured at 4:00 AM at the CDMX Airport, just as he was returning from an international trip (perhaps seeking plenary indulgences abroad?). They took him to Barrientos Prison, where, ironically, he will now be able to meditate on chastity behind bars. The arrest warrant, issued by a Tlalnepantla judge, accuses him of rape, a crime that, apparently, was not in his sermons.
The details: because the devil is in them
The victim, identified as PZF, was only 6 years old when this “man of faith” began to abuse him. The attacks continued until they were 13, and according to the complaint, they even occurred in the victim’s own home. But the priest, in an outburst of “devotion”, attempted one last approach when the boy was already 15. Come on, a real predator with an agenda.
The most scandalous thing (yes, more than the abuse) was the response of the Legionnaires when PZF’s mother warned them about possible new victims: “Don’t worry, it must have been a very specific attraction to her son”. Oh, of course! Because a pedophile is just a “circumstantial lover.” Does anyone have a manual of ecclesiastical excuses?
The victim: when the damage lasts
Today, PZF is 28 years old, lives outside of Mexico and suffers from psychiatric conditions. In a cinematic twist, a few months ago she ran into her attacker on a flight to Madrid and, with a mix of bravery and trauma, took a photo of him. What would Cabrera think when he saw it? Remorse? I doubt it.
The Legionnaires: selective “collaboration”
After the arrest, the congregation issued a statement saying that they are “fully willing to collaborate.” Of course, because 17 years later, the priority is… transparency? Of course, they assure that they have not received information from the authorities. Maybe you should check your spam box.
What’s next? Let justice act ruthlessly, even though the Church has a history of protecting its own. In the meantime, share this note so that more cases like this do not remain silent. Do you want to read more about clerical impunity? We have other reports that will make you lose faith… in the institutions.
Share and demand justice! Because some “men of God” need more than a miracle to redeem themselves.
