Mission World - November/December 2014

Mexico: Large increase in attacks on Catholic priests

Attacks on Catholic priests in Mexico have increased by 80% over the past two years, according to a new report released by the Mexican Catholic Multimedia Centre (CCM).

CCM reports that six priests have been killed and three others have been the victims of forced disappearances since President Enrique Pena Nieto came into power two years ago. The CCM Investigative Unit called on the Mexican government “to provide security in areas with a significant presence of organized crime.”

The report was released shortly after the kidnap and murder of Fr José Ascensión Acuña in the State of Guerrero in late September. Parishioners in Acelias, in the state of Guerrero, expressed concern when Fr Ascensión Acuña disappeared on September 21 and failed to reappear to hold Mass. His body was found in the Balsas River near Santa Cruz de Las Tinajas, in the municipality of San Miguel Totolapan, following an anonymous tip.

According to the Vatican, Mexico is now the country with the most attacks on Catholic religious leaders in the world. Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s (CSW’s) investigations revealed that the situation is similar for Protestant church leaders.

Reasons for the attacks on religious leaders by criminal groups vary. In some cases the criminal groups view religious leaders as opposing their objectives, either through word or action. Some religious leaders have been attacked because of their public denunciations of corruption and criminal activities, while others are targets because of work that impacts the interests of the criminal groups, for example with alcohol and drug addicts, victims of human trafficking or former members of criminal groups seeking to reintegrate into society.


Criminal organizations also often view churches as attractive targets for extortion or money laundering and religious leaders who refuse to cooperate frequently come under threat. In addition, some criminal groups have developed a religious aspect to their identity and seek to impose this in areas under their control. Sources told CSW that they believe at least one Catholic priest murdered in December 2013 was killed after he refused demands by a criminal group to hold a Mass dedicated to Santa Muerte (Saint Death) in the Catholic Church.

Mission Intention for November

That young seminarians and religious may have wise and well-formed mentors.

Mission Intention for December

That parents may be true evangelisers, passing on to their children the precious gift of faith.


Read more from The Far East, November/December 2014