“That was no heart attack”

Or so said Peter Clemenza to federal officials Willie Cicci to Frank Pentangeli* “The Godfather” about the convenient demise of one gangster.  While he isn’t dead, Bishop Onésimo Cepada — under indictment for a mega-million dollar (much mega-million peso) fraud involving allegations of forged wills, stolen art treasures and other activities decidedly at odds with his profession’s rather simple code of conduct (things like “thou shalt not covet thy neighbors’ goods,” and “thou shalt not steal”) — had a rather convenient health emergency that will, for now, keep him out of an enforced stay at Mexico City’s vertical bar Hilton.

… [G]iven a reform to the article 55 of penal code in Mexico City in 2004, which stipulates that those over 70 with health problems may be placed in “house arrest” rather than in the dock, the bishop’s heart attack – if there ever was one – may have saved him from prison. His own sister, Lily Cepeda, angrily denounced her bishop brother, claiming he faked it as a ploy to avoid prison or evoke sympathy.

Dishonor among thieves?  In his defense, Onésimo is only accused of robbing from the very rich, while his sister is suspected of being the master-mind behind a bizarre ponzi scheme involving pre-need sales of burial plots to civil servants (not the best paid people, and not those with a a few million in oil paintings that might not be missed). I guess — like the Pope’s statement that condom use by prostitutes to prevent AIDS at least show moral awareness that one’s behavior is sinful, and is something in the way of a mitigating circumstance.

Or, perhaps, it is easier for a camel to enter the gates of heaven, than for a rich man (especially with political ties to Mexico State governor, and presumed PRI Presidential candidate, Enrique Peña Nieto) to pass through the gates of Reclusio Sur.

*  OK, so I’m not up on my fictional gangsters (there’s so many non-fictional ones to choose from here) Many thanks to those who made me an offer I couldn’t refuse to correct the post.