TODAY'S MARTYRS - PRIESTS

 

As I wash the veggies we just got from the mainland, I am aware that much of our produce, even in our farm rich state, comes from Mexico.  As I prepare these vegetables I think of the  many priests who have been murdered in this supposed Catholic country. No Latin American country is more dangerous for Catholic priests than Mexico.

In the last 15 years, between 45 and 50 priests  and one cardinal have been killed in Mexican narcotics-related violence. Some died because they were caught in the crossfire and others died because they spoke out against the on-going corruption of their country. The murder of priests has become part of daily life in Mexico.

 This certainly is not the first time that anti-Catholic violence has plagued Mexico. Anti-Catholic and anticlerical oppression took place in the savage Cristero War of 1926-29, in which approximately 90 priests were killed in an attempt to purge priests as well as religious.

Just a few weeks ago (June 20), two Jesuits, Javier Campos Morales and Joaquin Cesar Mora Salazar, were murdered in Cerocahui, Chihuahua, while attempting to defend a man who was seeking refuge in their church. The priests were 79 and 80 years of age and were noted for their care of indigenous people.

In the three and a half years of the López Obrador administration, more than 121,000 homicides have been recorded in the country.  In the years of the past president, Enrique Peña Nieto, there were more than 156,000 murders committed during the six-year term.

One wonders how many of these were innocent bystanders?  We can only pray to our Lady of Guadalupe that the  respect for life, will once again prevail- in Mexico, as well as our own country!

Artwork: Elizabeth Wang (d. 2016)  UK