Religious sensibilities should be left at home during carnival celebrations© Phil Crean

Yellow Pages Beauty parlour   Lourdes Sanfiel Tenerife Beauty parlour, Beauty salon

His credentials speak for themselves. The man has been no slouch when it comes to giving of his time and energy. Throughout his childhood, he assisted the priest at mass as altar boy. When he left for La Laguna University, he continued his church contact and charity work.

Returning to La Gomera as a qualified Maths teacher, Manuel began voluntary work after school as a catechism teacher. Generations of children preparing for their First Communion were coached by him at catechism classes, or taught by him in island schools.

His infectious enthusiasm for local religious and cultural traditions made him an obvious choice for both Radio Televisión Española and Radio Televisión Canaria whenever a knowledgeable commentator was needed. And many televised events have been broadcast over the last twenty years with the well-known voice of our hero entertainingly explaining the proceedings. He also directs and narrates a yearly Nativity play in San Sebastián and another commemorating the patron saint's apparition. He has directed school drama productions for many years. All extra, voluntary jobs.

In recognition of all this conspicuous and valuable input, especially with young people, Manuel was invited to join the Cabildo and since 2001, has had special responsibilty for young islanders' issues.

One of the few Cabildo workers who is widely regarded as a 'good bloke', he is acknowledged as an effective and energetic worker. In what must the man's precious little remaining spare time, he directs, or rather, directed, the choir at La Asunción church in San Sebastián and had done so for many years.

That is no longer the case, and all because at carnival time Manuel bought a certain outfit in a local shop and then wore it. "To tell you the truth, I chose it because it was cheap. I didn't think about it much, but it would never have occurred to me in a million years that anyone would be offended by it. It only cost €22 and looked comfortable. I wore it that night for the Entierro de La Sardina, (the mock funeral to mark the end of carnival). Everyone was in mourning and we all had a lovely time pretending to be sad and partying".

Manuel went as a bishop, wearing a long robe and headgear. Curled staff in one hand, missal tucked under an arm and false beard reaching his chest, he looked, "...rather splendid, though I say so myself".

"When I got a phone call from the parish priest recently, I imagined he wanted to go over the details of the programme we were rehearsing with the choir. Little did I know!" What the priest did tell Manuel was that he was no longer the choir's director, due to his, "appearance in fancy dress as a bishop with a white beard"! He had, "been seen publicly sporting this disgraceful costume at carnival time". The priest further advised Manuel to, "reflect on his folly at leisure, unencumbered by the duties of choir director". Ouch.

The priest in question declined to comment when contacted by Island Connections. "This is an internal and private matter", he insisted, before hanging up.

It would be interesting to know exactly how many mock priests, nuns and bishops routinely appear in Canarian carnival celebrations. The main feature of the celebration to mark the end of carnival is anyway a mock funeral, with mock priests officiating. There were probably nearly a hundred 'priests' there and, according to Manuel, "more than a few fellow bishops".

Can the Catholic Church, in the light of the many international accusations against priests for child abuse, its collaboration with dictators and despots and very unchristian malpractice in general, afford to further reveal itself as being this petty and vindictive?

The choir has resigned to a man and protests from all over the island have gone to the diocese, but the priest stands firm, if alone. May he also have time to reflect, unencumbered as his is now by any of his congregation.

Gallery: The false bishop and the angry priest

1 picture found: Go to gallery