Here is some more on the scandalous treatment of the Church in Mexico city. It looks like members of the government that should be protecting the Church from harm, are in fact part of the groups that attacked her last week.
California Catholic Daily - “They broke in kicking down the doors”
Five minutes before noon, as on every Sunday, the Cathedral bells started ringing the call to Mass, which was interpreted by López Obrador’s followers as a provocation. According to the Mexico City daily El Universal, Sen. Rosario Ibarra, a leader of the most radical leftist elements of the PRD, “grabbed the microphone and roared: ‘Are these cassocks greeting our convention, or do they only want to shut up the people’s voice? Let’s find out!’ Then more than 100 sympathizers broke into the temple, make their way roughly, overturning benches, struggling with the faithful, and crying out offensive chants against Cardinal Rivera.”
Marcelo Ebrard, chief of government of Mexico’s capital city, the Federal District, and a member of the PRD himself who was present at the Zócalo rally, did not apologize or condemn the attack, saying instead, “The Cathedral belongs to the nation, not to the Catholic Church, so they cannot unilaterally close it up.”
Armando Martínez, president of the Catholic Attorneys Association, after filing a lawsuit against the aggressors, recalled that the doors of the Cathedral hadn’t been closed since 1926, when the Catholic Church closed all its churches because of the constant aggressions by left-wing groups, and as a way of protesting against the shutting down of all the Catholic schools, convents, seminaries and hospitals by the Plutarco Elías Calles government.
The sad irony of the aggression of Nov. 18 is that it happened precisely the same day as the Church began celebrations of the 80th anniversary of Father Miguel Agustín Pro’s martyrdom. Pro was the Mexican Jesuit shot dead without due process on November 23, 1927 by direct orders of President Calles.
Hearing this story brings several thoughts to mind.
- 1. I thank God I live in a country where I am still free to practice my religion and express my thoughts.
- 2. We need to pray for our brothers and sisters in Mexico who are not afforded that same right. The history of Mexico has a long stretch of hostility toward the faith.
- 3. It is easy to see why so many people would want to come to the United States - for the freedom and opportunity that this country affords.
