Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Chilpancingo (Agenzia Fides) - The Catholic Church welcomes the new year with great concern due to the wave of violence and insecurity in the state of Guerrero: this is what the Bishop of the Diocese of Chilpancingo-Chilapa (Guerrero, Mexico), His Exc. Mgr. Alejo Zavala Castro said, denouncing the fact that priests of his diocese are being threatened and blackmailed.
According to the note sent by a source of Fides, the Bishop informed that on 5 January the three Bishops of the area of Guerrero, together with the Archbishop of Acapulco, had a meeting with the Attorney General, Miguel Angel Godinez, to address the issue , two weeks after the murder of a priest in Ciudad Altamirano, Father Gregorio López. In the diocesan curia there is concern after the recent murders of two priests: Gregorio López (see Fides 30/12/2014) and the Ugandan John Ssenyondo (see Fides 15/11/2014). With regards ti Fr. Ssenyondo, Mgr. Zavala Castro said that so far the authorities have not provided a report on the investigation and his remains have not yet been transferred to the country of origin.
The Bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, wishing peace and prosperity for all in the new year, asked the authorities to ensure security in the whole area of Guerrero. He also informed that he had a meeting with his priests to study the situation. Priests continue to preach the Gospel as always, with missionary spirit and evangelical coherence. Although they have been threatened and suffer extortion attempts, the priests will not ask the government for special security, "what the government should do is to ensure the safety of all citizens", concluded Mgr. Zavala Castro. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 09/01/2015)
