Central America bans 'the Antichrist'
MICA ROSENBERG IN GUATEMALA CITY
THREE Central American governments have banned a man claiming to be
the Antichrist from entering their countries, outraged by his
inflammatory preaching against the Catholic Church and organised
religion.
El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala have banned Jose de Jesus
Miranda, who heads a cult-like movement with sermons televised from
Miami to dozens of mostly Latin American nations and wants to join
followers at a rally next week in Guatemala.
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A former heroin addict who was briefly imprisoned as a youth in his
native Puerto Rico, Miranda, 60, talks openly in a video on his
website about how he loved cocaine and dreamed of working in a
Colombian drug lab.
He has the number 666 signifying the Antichrist tattooed on his arm
but says he is Jesus Christ reborn on Earth, arguing that St Paul's
teachings show this is what Antichrist means. He calls other
priests "faggots," and makes fun of Holy Week customs in Latin
America, calling the statues of Jesus that Catholics parade though
streets "little dolls."
"The Pope should be ashamed," Miranda shouts in Spanish into a
microphone. "He should wear pants like a man."
Tony Saca, the president of strongly Catholic El Salvador, barred
Miranda from entering the country last month, describing him as "a
danger to mental health".
Miranda said the country would suffer an earthquake because of the
decision.
"It's the new Inquisition," said Carlos Cestero, Miranda's
right-hand man, known as the "Bishop of Bishops".
"These small nations are clearly puppets of the Catholic Church,"
he said.