Drunken Driving Priest
Accuses Media of
Persecution
The Catholic priest,
Carlos Humberto Abarca,
blames media persecution
following being pulled
over by the Policía de
Tránsito (traffic
police) during a routine
check where the priest
was found to be behind
the wheel of a vehicle
with a blood alcohol
content of 2.52, well
above the 0.99 that is
permitted under the
traffic laws.
Abarca and his assistant
(not identified) shouted
at the television
cameras, blaming the
media of conspiracy and
spying on his privacy.
"See, I am not driving",
where comments of Abarca
to the television
cameras while sitting
behind the wheel and
being pulled by a tow
truck.
The Policía de Tránsito
say the priest was seen
driving erratically by a
taxi driver who followed
the vehicle and reported
to the Tránsito
communications centre.
Germán Marín, director
of the Policía de
Tránsito, confirmed that
the priest was fined the
maximum fined currently
allowed - ¢26.000
colones (us$50) and
confiscated Abarca's
drivers license.
Marín added that it is
now up to the Tribunales
de Tránsito (traffic
court) if Abarca will
have his license
returned or suspended
for six to twelve months
and have to pay the
fine.
In a press statement
yesterday, San José
Archbishop, Hugo
Barrantes, said that he
has called for a
"disciplinary
ecclesiastic
investigation" into
Abarca's actions.
Meanwhile, according to
Barrantes, the priest
will be barred from
"pastoral functions"
until the end of the
investigation and will
be personally meeting
with the priest to
"talk".
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