Cardinal Felipe Arizmendi, Bishop Emeritus of San Cristóbal de Las Casas and responsible for the Doctrine of the Faith at the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), offers Exaudi readers his weekly article.

FACTS

In my town, in the southern part of the State of Mexico, life seems peaceful, everything appears calm, and there are no problems. The truth is, everyone pays protection money to the criminal organization that controls the region, which claims to be part of La Familia Michoacana. With their high-powered weapons, they enforce their own law.  And since all they care about is making money, and our small business owners and farmers pay the extortion fee, they leave us “in peace.” Because they alone control the territory and no other cartel invades the region, there isn’t much insecurity and violence for the community. That’s why it seems like we’re at peace, when in reality, there’s widespread slavery that the government hasn’t been able to control or prevent.

In Chiapas, years ago, the Chapo Guzmán cartel controlled the entire territory for drug trafficking to the United States. When the Zetas  tried to enter through Palenque, they were driven out by the other group, and it seemed like we were at peace. Now, the situation there has changed drastically, because various cartels are fighting to extort both the people of Chiapas and the migrants crossing the border; they charge them thousands of dollars to pass through; and if their families don’t pay the amount demanded, they torture them, force them to join the cartel, or kill them.

It’s only fair to say that our authorities, both state and federal, have begun to change the  “hugs, not bullets” strategy of the previous administration, which has caused us so much harm. Although they may not want to say it explicitly, for fear of upsetting their boss, the reality of violence in the country has forced them to try to curb and prevent the active presence of so many criminal groups. A new law against extortion has already been passed, which we hope will yield positive results.

LIGHTNING

At the conclusion of our recent assembly, the Mexican bishops unanimously issued a message describing some aspects of our national reality, not with the intention of engaging in partisan politics against the government, but rather to generate hope and closeness with our people. Among other things, we said:

“We live in difficult times; violence has become commonplace. The cancer of organized crime that we have suffered for years has spread its tentacles to many corners of the country. None of the leaders who have governed this country have managed to eradicate this evil. In many regions, our nation remains under the control of violent groups. We must not be afraid to speak about what we all know, but some prefer to remain silent.”

The murders and disappearances continue. Innocent blood is still being spilled in our streets, towns, and cities. Entire families are displaced by the terror of organized crime. We experience daily insecurity as we travel on roads and highways. Extortion has become systematic for small and medium-sized business owners, farmers, and truckers, even for poor families, all forced to pay “protection money” to criminals under threat of death. The State, which in many places has ceded territorial control to criminal groups, is unable to regain it.

We want you to know that our closeness is always with the victims, with the poor, with those who suffer. That our friendship is above all with the ordinary people who struggle every day to survive with dignity. As Pope Leo XIV tells us in his Apostolic Exhortation Dilexi Te: “Care for the poor is part of the great Tradition of the Church, like a beacon of light which, from the Gospel, has illuminated the hearts and steps of Christians of all times” (DT 103).

We do not do it with hatred or resentment. We do it with the firmness that springs from love. Because we love this people of which we are a part. Because we love this nation that is ours. And precisely because of this love, we cannot remain silent in the face of what is wrong. Pope Leo XIV tells us in his apostolic exhortation: “It must always be remembered that the Gospel proposal is not only that of an individual and intimate relationship with the Lord. The proposal is broader: it is the Kingdom of God (cf. Lk 4:43). Therefore, both the proclamation and the Christian experience tend to bring about social consequences. We seek his Kingdom” (DT 97).

ACTIONS

While we hope the government will do its part and truly defend the people, let us do ours, which is to pray for our authorities and educate ourselves to respect the rights of others and promote solidarity with those who suffer.