Fake Catholic Priest Unmasked After 18 Years

Miguel Angel Ibarra, who pretended to be a priest for more than 18 years, has been dismissed by the Catholic Church in Spain.

Ibarra carried out weddings and baptisms, first in Colombia and then in southern Spain, despite having never been ordained.

Those ceremonies will still be recognised, the Church says, but not his communions or the confessions he heard. He was found to be an impostor after a complaint was filed in Colombia.

The complainant alleged Mr Ibarra had forged his documents. After a “thorough investigation”, it was found that he had never been ordained and he has now been ordered to return to Colombia, Church officials say.