AMERICA/MEXICO - Cardinal of Monterrey insists on Church's role in fighting organized crime

Wednesday, 14 April 2010

Monterrey (Agenzia Fides) – The Archbishop of Monterrey, Cardinal Francisco Robles Berlanga, ensures that in the pastoral document "That in Christ, our peace, Mexico may have a decent life", the Church offers "concrete proposals" and that the government cannot fight against organized crime on their own.
While Mexican authorities are conducting a series of strategies to combat organized crime, the Church and society cannot escape their responsibility in this fight against the violence in the country, said Cardinal Francisco Robles Berlanga, Archbishop of Monterrey.
According to the Cardinal, the Bishops of Mexico have the opportunity during the 89th General Assembly to promote and support the work of the diocese in making concrete proposals on pressing issues for the country: "The message is very clear: The authorities are trying to do their work and we, as a society, should require them to do their job, but we cannot escape our responsibility as a Church before the society. Our work seeks to increase people's awareness of the dignity of every person, of the value of life and of education to transform people."
As Fides learns in a note sent by the Archdiocese, the Cardinal also stated that: "The pastoral document 'That in Christ, our peace, Mexico may have a decent life' offers concrete answers to the current crisis (see Fides 16/02/2010) and the particular Churches of Mexico will act responsibly in response to the document and to the missionary commitments indicated in the Document of Aparecida."
Violence in Mexico has recently seen a sharp increase. Just a few days ago, there was news of a Catholic church burned 100 km outside the city of Juárez. It was the Parish of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, part of the district of El Porvenir. According to local press, it is the work of organized crime meant to devastate the population. The same criminal groups in the place have killed over 80 people, burned about 16 homes, and have warned people to leave the neighborhood. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 14/04/2010)


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