A mafia hitman in Italy allegedly poisoned a Catholic priest’s communion chalice in a small town after the holy cleric spoke out against organized crime....CONTINUE READING
“Palamara suspected something was wrong and immediately suspended the service and called the Italian national police, the Carabinieri. The police later determined Palamara’s cruets of water and wine had been laced with bleach,” per the New York Post.
“I’m sure that this act of intimidation has nothing to do with my parishioners because I have been here for 10 years and I have always had good relations with the people of the parish,” Palamara told theCorriere della Seranewspaper.
“We don’t allow anyone to do harm to the parish. Nobody can stop a town that deserves redemption and that wants to grow,” he added.
When Father Felice Palmara prepared to drink from a chalice in which he had placed the consecrated water and wine for a Sunday vigil Mass on Saturday evening, he detected a strange odor and interrupted the liturgy.https://t.co/xsy1TYq7Vs
— Crux (@Crux) February 26, 2024
“In August last year, the local town council was dissolved over concerns the Mafia had infiltrated its ranks, a common measure taken especially in Italy’s south, where Mafia influence has held strong,” it added.
Palamara said that he has been the target of numerous death threats and that his car has been vandalized multiple times. He has since obtained a police escort.
