Mexico: Guerrero priests continue to preach, in face of death threats

The Catholic Church in Mexico has welcomed the new year with great concern due to a wave of violence and insecurity in the state of Guerrero. The Bishop of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, Mgr Alejo Zavala Castro said priests of his diocese are being threatened and blackmailed.

On 5 January, the three Bishops of the area of Guerrero, together with the Archbishop of Acapulco, had a meeting with the Attorney General, Miguel Angel Godinez, to address the issue, two weeks after the murder of a priest in Ciudad Altamirano, Father Gregorio López.

In the diocesan curia there is concern after the recent murders of two priests: Gregorio López and the Ugandan John Ssenyondo. With regards to Fr Ssenyondo, Mgr Zavala Castro said that so far the authorities have not provided a report on the investigation and his remains have not yet been transferred to the country of origin.

The Bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, wishing peace and prosperity for all in the new year, asked the authorities to ensure security in the whole area of Guerrero. He also had a meeting with his priests to study the situation and said that they are committed to preaching the Gospel as always, with missionary spirit and evangelical coherence. Although they have been threatened and suffer extortion attempts, the priests will not ask the government for special security, "what the government should do is to ensure the safety of all citizens", concluded Mgr Zavala Castro.

Source: Fides