Mexican rapper hands out marijuana in church as if it were a Host with the permission of the parish priest

Rapper 'Alemán' hands out marijuana in church as if they were Hosts: This is what the priest who authorised it said

The parish priest of the Guadalupan Shrine in Hermosillo explained why he authorised a video of Alemán's song in church: 'it reaches an audience we can't reach'.

Rapper Alemán caused controversy for a music video recorded in a church in Hermosillo, Sonora.

After images were released of Mexican rapper Aleman dancing in a purple tunic at the Guadalupano shrine in Hermosillo, Sonora, where he is seen handing out marijuana cigars as if they were hosts, the city's Archdiocese and the musician issued a public apology, as well as the local parish priest who authorised it.

Érick Raúl Alemán Ramírez, known only as Alemán, is a rapper originally from Baja California who has performed alongside Peso Pluma, one of his most famous tracks is 'Chapo Guzmán', in which he talks about the life of the Mexican drug trafficker; he also has songs with Snoop Dogg.

For a music video for his new single, the musician filmed at a church altar, dressed in a purple outfit like priests wear at Easter time.

Comments of annoyance circulated on social networks, especially for a fragment where the musician hands out what are apparently marijuana cigarettes to a line of young parishioners.

En el Santuario Guadalupano Hermosillo, autorizado por el Sacerdote, no puede ser !! @hilarioolea @rquirrin @VictorMendozaL @kioscomayor @r_rbc @JuanGerardoGnd1 @ArquidiocesisMx @cobacame pic.twitter.com/WvDPMN0Kea

— Arturo Ballesteros N (@ABN58) April 22, 2023

In addition to that location, Alemán recorded in other places in Hermosillo, such as the esplanade of the Capilla del Carmen, in the historic centre of the capital of Sonora.

The rapper offered apologies in a video posted on the Facebook page of the Santuario Guadalupano Hermosillo:

"This video is to apologise to all those people who came to feel offended by the video, everything was with a lot of respect and love, an apology to Father Luis Armando who was the one who stopped us from making this video. It's a very positive song... it's something very different to what I've done before".

Church parish priest authorised Alemán's video

Luis Armando González Torres, priest of the Santuario Guadalupano in Hermosillo, authorised the musician to make the video, according to a Facebook video on the parish's website.

"Alemán wanted to send a positive message from here and I was not going to refuse that, as Pope Francis says: the doors are open and no one can judge anyone's life". He also clarified several points about the video circulating on social networks.

The video is out of context

"Sometimes on social networks it is taken out of context, although what is circulating is when Alemán is on the altar there recording, it was at that precise moment when I reminded him that I had authorised them to use the church but that they could not go up to the altar, they immediately got down and continued recording".

The Blessed Sacrament was not in the church

The priest said that the Blessed Sacrament was not in the church when they filmed the video because it was moved to a reserved chapel.

No clothes were lent to Alemán

According to the priest, no liturgical vestments were lent to the rapper either, because he wore his own wardrobe with his production.

Series and films have been filmed in churches

The priest assured that this was allowed because many series, films, documentaries and soap operas are filmed in churches; in addition, the faithful bring musical groups and even mariachis for weddings, baptisms and first communions, as well as for serenades to the Virgin of Guadalupe or other saints.

Luis Armando González Torres clarified that the image circulating is out of context 

The Archdiocese of Hermosillo issued a statement calling for respect and devotion for sacred sites:

"We recognise that it was acted without ill will and intention, but it was acted imprudently, therefore the Lord Archbishop Ruy Rendón Leal, and all our Presbytery, we offer a sincere apology to all the People of God of our Archdiocese and to all those people who felt aggrieved in their faith, we assume and reiterate the commitment to watch and take care, that these acts are not repeated in our Church," the Diocese assured.

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