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Mexican bishops warn of ‘manifestations of death’ in the country

Mexico City cathedral. (Diego Grandi/Shutterstock)

Mexico City Newsroom, Mar 9, 2025 / 08:00 am (CNA).

The Church in Mexico warned this week about the “manifestations of death that have been taking place in our country,” which, according to the bishops, “threaten human dignity, dehumanize our coexistence, and leave a deep wound in the conscience of our people.”

In a statement issued on March 5, the Mexican Bishops’ Conference specifically pointed out problems such as “the decriminalization and promotion of abortion, the scourge of uncontrolled violence, organized crime, and the scourge of drug trafficking, which has turned entire regions into war zones.”

However, despite this panorama “marked by shadows of death and despair,” the prelates reminded that “life is a sacred gift, which must be welcomed, protected, defended, and promoted with courage.”

6 commitments for life

In this context, the bishops called for a commitment in favor of human dignity, calling for a Week for Life to be held March 24–28. As part of this initiative, they proposed various actions to strengthen the culture of life in the country.

The prelates called for the formation of a “conscience illuminated by the truth,” emphasizing that “it is essential to educate the conscience in the light of the Gospel and the teaching of the Church to avoid falling into error and moral confusion.”

They also insisted on the need to protect people in their most vulnerable stages, especially the unborn and the elderly, and warned that one should not “be silent in the face of unjust laws that violate human dignity.”

The bishops stressed the urgency of “promoting the family and education in values,” emphasizing that the home is the first space for learning and formation. “It is necessary to strengthen marriage, educat[e] in faith and Christian values ​​so that the new generations grow in a culture of respect and solidarity,” they added.

They also urged people to “combat violence with the peace of the Gospel,” affirming that “we cannot resign ourselves to violence. Peace begins in the heart of each person and is built with justice.”

The bishops further urged people to accompany the victims of violence, recalling that the faithful are “called to be Samaritans who heal the wounds of those who have suffered violence. Mercy is a concrete witness to Christian hope.”

Finally, they emphasized the importance of strengthening evangelization and social commitment, emphasizing that “it is not enough to denounce evil, it is necessary to announce the good news of Christ. We must be present in all areas where consolation and accompaniment are needed.”

‘Witnesses and messengers of hope’

Although they recognized that “the situation we face in Mexico is challenging,” the bishops expressed their certainty that “God walks with his people, and we are called to be witnesses and messengers of hope and life.”

“We want to be messengers of hope and life, welcoming motherhood with love. Let us be messengers of hope and life, welcoming with love the sick, the weak, and the vulnerable,” the bishops said.

This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.


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15 Comments

    • When you go to Mexico you see this ceremony performed on tourists in public squares. It’s not considered something sinister nor related to human sacrifice.
      The president of Mexico is not a Catholic. Catholics should know better than to associate with non Christian rituals but in Latin America there’s a hazy line between those things.
      I’d rather see more concern about organized crime, violence, and the increase of feticides in Mexico.

  1. The cult of Santa Muerte (Our Lady of Holy Death) is quite popular within the criminal element in Mexico. Santa Muerte is also revered and seen as a saint and protector of the LGBTQ communities in Mexico. This cult has made inroads into the US. But “Diversity is our strength” – right?

    • Yes, Santa Muerte is really disturbing & as you say, it’s not unique to Mexico. I’ve seen SM candles for sale in several grocery stores & a otherwise respectable looking mother driving a nice SUV with a Santa Muerte decal on the rear window.

      • So, mrscracker, same question: “Do you consider the US to be a Christian nation at present? Thanks for your considered reply.

        • I guess my reply would be similar. There are many sincere Christian people in the US. Our nation didn’t begin in the same way Mexico did through the Spanish but I think we were certainly founded from a Judeo Christian world view.

          • mrscracker: But our country was founded 250 years ago. That doesn’t tell us whether the USA could be considered a Christian country in 2025. Are you saying that you think we are? Does it matter whether or not we are a Christian country?

  2. Absolutely true. By attacking us, her children, they attack the Blessed Mother as our Lady of Guadalupe, since it was she who claimed the Americas for her Son.
    Prayers and supplications to our Lady of Guadalupe are powerful in helping all the peoples of the Americas.

  3. In Guatemala where I used to lead medical missions, there was a cult practice that was intermingled with the local Catholic faith. The idol’s name was Machemon. Here is how Wikipedia describes the practice:

    “Maximón is venerated in the form of an effigy or cult image. Worship varies greatly by location. In Santiago Atitlán, Maximón’s effigy resides in a different household every year. His image is normally only taken out of this house during Holy Week, whereafter it will change households, but is on display year-round due to the popularity of pilgrimages. The effigy has special attendants that stay by the altar year-round, drinking and smoking alongside it. They deliver offerings from the public to the image. Popular offerings include money, tobacco, and moonshine.

    In the town of San Andrés Itzapa, there is a large temple to Maximón. Here, offerings such as corn, flowers, and candles are burned in public by shamans for the deity. Pilgrims travel to this temple from all across Latin America.

    Guatemalan press has claimed that the worship of Maximón has declined in recent decades, but this is difficult to measure with much certainty”.

    I’m certain that some in our current Vatican would approve of this practice of mixing the Catholic faith with other local cultural expressions.

  4. This is all so interesting. I’m new to El Paso TX and my naivety about what I thought it would be like was so far off base I don’t know what to do with my feelings about; screaming in my head isn’t working and I trying to learn to leave it at the foot of the cross, to no avail. I’m not sure why but I idealized the notion of El Paso and New Mexico being a bastion of Catholicism being back stopped by Our Lady of Guadalupe. Instead I found that Satan still reigns; he passed the torch to Margaret Sanger who left her demonic mark on El Paso and New Mexico, which have become voracious purveyors of endorsing and action the slaughtering of the innocents; their target – the family, the cultures and the lives of the next generations. In my humble opinion – I can feel the demonic presence in this area, which is 100% on board with Margaret Sangers goal of destruction of the undesirables in the form of the local cultures, both Mexican /Hispanic and native populations that exist here – they even have cartoonish billboards right across the state line in New Mexico enticing young women and girls from those cultures toward abortion. The local populace en masse seems immune to, and supportive of the killing fields that exist, with few exceptions compared to the population. While Texas is a no abortion strong hold; El Paso County and City elected leaders have openly voted to stand in solidarity with Planned Parenthood as a matter of civic vote, with and without public comment. Elected National representatives are also voracious in their thirst for blood through abortion endorsement, tied the second place issue of maintaining unfettered migration across our southern border. I can’t even begin to expound on the demonic level of support for the mass slaughter that is championed with fanatical “religious” fervor by New Mexico elected officials from the state reps down through the Governor and local officials. It is chilling. As a pro-life supporter and active participant in prolife events in El Paso and New Mexico, the level of evil that hangs in the air is palpable as a stand for life is taken in this area. I’d say it’s not “the people” of El Paso or New Mexico who facilitate this, and have to pinch myself and hold back throwing the BS card on that, when our Lady of Guadalupe is revered yet abortion reigns here through public vote for elected officials whose stated platform objectives are to support and raise abortion and opportunities for the same to a frenetic level. Both can’t legitimately co-exist, and Our Lady seems to be a show piece of days gone by, certainly not by all, but obviously a majority given the voting outcomes, where abortion is the actionable item, second only to unfettered streams of broken humanity across an open border. Second only to abortion is support to unfettered open borders and the cash cow that facilitates, as well as setting the ground work to fundamentally change the electorate and the country. Arguing to the contrary is pointless given the feckless approach to the problem, and the horrendous outcomes leading to servitude and being beholden to a party only focused on power, not true benevolence toward rhe “invited” guests. Generally, the elected politicos and the masses in many cases, demonize those standing for the rule of law and managed immigration, amplified by the Diocese of El Paso’s clear focus on sustaining the migrant flow we’ve experienced while throwing the anti-abortion components of Family Life Ministry scraps from the bone of support, in my observational based opinion. The unfettered migration we’ve experienced is not only inhumane but undignified in itself; despite local civic and religious leaders calling the cessation of that unchecked migration, inhumane and undignified, the lack of moral standing of the argument and the subjugation of the issue that has a clear moral component to a second class issue. If there is unchecked abortion, the immigration issue becomes moot. There would be much less of a problem if the government had not circumvented law and the will of the people. The indignation by the local community leaders, faux outrage by local national representatives and the tale of woe from the Diocese is sad and appears farcical. Migrants streamed into the country with little to no pastoral care, in some cases based on status were fed and clothed as Christ commended by local pastors, but were fed into the mill of voter cultivation and loads of “free chicken” once onward moved into the corners of the country. There was little capacity enroute or while in this city to provided pastoral care, the Sacraments or nurture faith, which was likely lost or challenged when our goverment enticed people to walk across the southern portion of the continent to become unwhiting prey to one political party who offered overcrowding, inhumane conditions, facilitated human trafficking, extortion, rape, molestation, indentured servitude, and a host of other undignified outcomes intentionally or unintentionally; it doesn’t matter – it’s reality and a consequence of their action. I know this from good authority. We also hear about it from honest journalism and media, AND federal agencies trying to manage the nightmare our government created will attest to it, while being immediately vilified. We are at a major cross roads in Mexico and the US; none of it will lead to good; all of it leading away from Mother Mary and Her Son, to increased literal tribalism, rejection of the one true God, rejection of His mother and eventually, I believe, war over pat grievances, perceived utopia existing in the green grass across the road, etc. I pray that is not the case. I lament it will likely be so. God bless Mexico and the US and help us get focused on His will, and that His will be done; not the Devil and his demonic forces which have a strong hold on both countries, overtly and covertly.

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