Is there a rule of thumb for spotting charlatans?
Be suspicious of anyone using the title Archbishop if you discover that they don’t have any bishops of which they are the elected head. An Archbishop without bishops is either just a bishop or a charlatan. Do not touch with the proverbial barge-pole any independent cleric using the title His Eminence or His Beatitude. They are titles reserved for Popes and Patriarchs of mainstream churches. Anyone else using them is at best a meglomaniac and at worst a charlatan. What we do have are confidence tricksters in legitimate Holy Orders, and confidence tricksters who pretend to be in Holy Orders. They are all still confidence tricksters.
