Fri. Feb 7th, 2025

Spanish Priest Sidelined by Church for Allegedly Hawking Viagra<!-- wp:html --><p>picture alliance via Getty Images</p> <p>A Spanish priest has been sidelined by the Roman Catholic Church after he was busted by the Civil Guard’s organized-crime unit for allegedly selling Viagra and other “aphrodisiac substances” out of his home.</p> <p>Identified in local reports as a long-time parish priest from the small town of Don Benito, he is now receiving “psychological and spiritual” help during his temporary suspension, the diocese of Plasencia announced in a <a href="https://diocesisplasencia.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/COMUNICADO-OFICIAL-S.pdf">statement</a> on Thursday, adding that it was “dismayed” by the “scandal” swirling around the case.</p> <p>Known as Don Alfonso, the priest was detained Monday but later provisionally released, while a second man who was arrested—described in local reports as Don Alfonso’s boyfriend—has remained in custody. According to <a href="https://www.elmundo.es/espana/2024/02/21/65d5e460fc6c83f5358b457c.html">El Mundo</a>, Don Alfonso was monitored by the Civil Guard’s Organized-Crime and Anti-Drug Unit for months before cops finally swooped in and arrested him.</p> <p><a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/spanish-priest-don-alfonso-sidelined-by-church-for-allegedly-hawking-viagra">Read more at The Daily Beast.</a></p><!-- /wp:html -->

picture alliance via Getty Images

A Spanish priest has been sidelined by the Roman Catholic Church after he was busted by the Civil Guard’s organized-crime unit for allegedly selling Viagra and other “aphrodisiac substances” out of his home.

Identified in local reports as a long-time parish priest from the small town of Don Benito, he is now receiving “psychological and spiritual” help during his temporary suspension, the diocese of Plasencia announced in a statement on Thursday, adding that it was “dismayed” by the “scandal” swirling around the case.

Known as Don Alfonso, the priest was detained Monday but later provisionally released, while a second man who was arrested—described in local reports as Don Alfonso’s boyfriend—has remained in custody. According to El Mundo, Don Alfonso was monitored by the Civil Guard’s Organized-Crime and Anti-Drug Unit for months before cops finally swooped in and arrested him.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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