Mexico’s ongoing struggle against organised crime affects all Mexicans, but especially the most vulnerable groups in rural areas, including minority Christian denominations. Christians who actively engage in transforming society constitute a threat to drug cartels and other criminal groups. In indigenous-heavy regions, those who convert from indigenous traditional beliefs to non-traditional Protestant denominations face persecution. Members of the Catholic Renewal Movement have also been targeted.
Nuns beaten in fresh attacks on Mexico’s Catholics
A violent attack on three nuns, who were tied up, gagged and assaulted, has led to renewed criticism that Mexican authorities aren’t taking crimes against Catholics seriously, reports CSW. Nine months earlier there was a similarly brutal attack on a parish priest in the same village. In a statement issued […]
Home at last in Mexico
The 12 families returned to the village of Buenavista Bawitz on 15 April to find that some of their homes had been vandalised while they were gone.Courtesy Open Doors International It’s been almost two months since 12 evangelical Christian families – 49 people* in all – were allowed to […]
2014 deadliest year for Mexican Catholic leaders
has published a new report on religious freedom violations in Mexico revealing that “more Roman Catholic priests and lay leaders were killed in Mexico in 2014 than in any other country in the world.” According to the report, leaders from other Christian denominations face similar threats from criminal groups, but […]
Mexican Priest’s body found on Christmas Day
CNN reports that the body of Rev. Gregorio Lopez was found shot dead on Christmas Day after being kidnapped in Mexico’s south-western drug cartel state Guerrero. The motive for the killing remains unclear, but he is the third priest to be killed in the state this year. “A friend of […]
Exile
The document is signed. All parties have agreed that Fidencio Jiménez, his wife, Petrona Díaz, and their children can return to their home. The couple expects a cool welcome. Just the same, they said they will return to Santa Rosalía, and resume living the way that provoked neighbours to chase […]
Missionary couple killed, peace pact in Puebla
A married couple who had served for 28 years as Baptist missionaries in Mexico were murdered on Tuesday (Jan. 31) at their home near Monterrey in El Cercado, Santiago, Nuevo Leon. John Casias, 76, and Wanda Casias, 67, were strangled with electrical cords when intruders broke into their house and […]