Mexico: Eleventh priest found murdered

Fr Erastus

The Archdiocese of Puebla has reported the violent death of Fr Erastus Pliego de Jesus, today. The parish priest of St Mary of the Nativity in the small town of Cuyuaco, had been missing for a few days.

In a brief statement, the Archdiocese announced that the authorities had found the priest's body yesterday morning, 17 November, in the rural location where he was kidnapped.

"The Archdiocese deeply regrets that a priest, whose life was devoted to God and to the service of others, was the victim of violence", the statement said.

According to reports from the local press, the body was burned, and had a deep wound to the head. It is assumed that the reasons of his death is due to a robbery which ended in murder, but authorities are carrying out an investigation.

"We thank the authorities for all the support in this unfortunate event. To the family and to his parish community we assure you of our support and solidarity", concluded the statement of the Archdiocese.

According to the Catholic Multimedia Mexican Center, eleven priests have been killed since 2013 and two more are still missing. In 2014 two priests were abducted and killed in the state of Guerrero. One of them was found on December 25 with a bullet in the head, while in November the body of a Ugandan priest who had disappeared months before, was found in a ditch.

Source: Fides