People do not report them for fear of organized crime
There are many cases of kidnapping. First there was talk of 50 but it seems that at least 400 have disappeared. But most of their families have not reported the kidnappings for fear", said the father of one of the missing children, victims of drug trafficking and organized crime.
Relatives of victims of the missing children gathered at the Virgen del Carmen Parish in early February to take part in a Mass celebrated by the Bishop of Veracruz, His Exc. Mgr. Luis Felipe Gallardo Martín del Campo, S.D.B. The Church has become the only point of reference for many families in search of faith and hope.
Mgr. Gallardo Martín del Campo read the list of the 23 missing persons from the local area in recent weeks. "Some time ago it was known that the armed gang of guerrillas in Sierra Guerrero enlisted people by force. Now the fact that drug trafficking and organized crime have entered into our society there is no control, the justice system has been destroyed, there is violence everywhere. And now the authorities do not know how to stop the problem", reported the Bishop.
"Not even the Church is free of this violence" continued the Bishop. "We have had more than five cases of abductions, with priests kidnapped and then released in the middle of the fields, simply to steal their car. Two seminarians were kidnapped but luckily found. Our parishes have to deal with robberies and extortions on a daily basis".
Mission Intention for March
That those Christians who, on account of their faith, are discriminated against or are being persecuted, may remain strong and faithful to the Gospel, thanks to the incessant prayer of the Church.
Read more from The Far East, March 2016