A Spanish priest has been forced to apologise after riding on a carnival float dressed as Playboy founder, Hugh Hefner, while flanked by two men dressed as Playboy bunnies who simulated erotic acts on him as the parade made its way through the town of Cuntis, Galicia.
Juan Carlos Martínez’ superiors in the Catholic Church were less than impressed and have suggested that Father Martínez attend a spiritual retreat to atone for his “unacceptable” behaviour.
A repentant Martínez said this week he would never dress up again in his life adding that he had made an appointment to offer his personal apologies to the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela.
Despite the furore surrounding the priest’s actions, locals have come out in his defence.
“He is loved by the whole town, he’s young…” one local, speaking to Spanish TV station Antena 3, said of the 40-year-old priest. Hundreds turned out to support him in front of his superiors and said he had invigorated tourism in the area.
The town of Cuntis in the municipality of Galicia, close to the west coast of Spain. It has a population of around 5,000 people.