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 the house occupied by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the top leader of the  Jalisco New Generation Cartel,  when he was captured and killed by the federal government, an altar was found with images of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Saint Jude Thaddeus, and other saints, along with votive candles and a handwritten psalm. In July 2022, he posted a video urging cartels to respect priests, evangelical pastors, doctors, and teachers. He considered himself a devout Catholic, but he was a murderer, drug trafficker, and extortionist who had no qualms about protecting his  business  and the interests of his organization. Where did his Catholic upbringing fail him?

A priest from that region wrote a letter about Rubén Oseguera González, son of “El Mecho,” stating that he “comes from a very devout Catholic family.” Is that family truly devout Catholic? Perhaps some members are, but to claim that about the entire family contradicts their actions. Being a devout Catholic means loving God and neighbor; it’s not just praying and having a few religious devotions. Where have we failed in religious instruction, in catechesis and homilies, in our parish groups, that some consider their Catholic faith compatible with practices completely contrary to it?

Most members of these groups, both common and organized crime, consider themselves Catholic because they were baptized, perhaps received First Communion and Confirmation; they probably have their devotions, wear a scapular, a crucifix, or an image of the Virgin Mary around their necks; however, their lives completely contradict what our faith proclaims. It is very likely they do not attend Sunday Mass; yet they are children of the Church. Where have we failed? It is the same question some parents ask themselves when their children misbehave.

In this Lenten season, it is fitting to examine our conscience and our pastoral practices to analyze our shortcomings. The government should have done much more long ago to prevent these criminal groups from growing and entrenching themselves; but not everything is the government’s fault; we too must acknowledge our failings.

LIGHTNING

The Mexican bishops, in a document from 2009, entitled  “That in Christ, our Peace, Mexico may have a dignified life”,  we say.

“Today we perceive an evangelization with little fervor and without new methods and expressions, an emphasis on ritualism without the appropriate formative itinerary; religious movements and groups that forget the social dimension of faith, an individualistic spirituality; a relativistic mentality in ethical matters; in pastoral care, languages ​​of little significance to the current culture persist. And with regard to insecurity and violence, we recognize with sadness that among those involved in organized crime there are baptized women and men, who with their actions distance themselves from God and the Church. Areas related to these situations have also been neglected, such as prison ministry, pastoral care for juvenile offenders and those at risk, and accompaniment of innocent victims”  (95).

“Evangelization must transform people from the root so that they become a leaven of peace in the world. We must humbly recognize that many of the people involved in organized crime are baptized in the Church, but lack a living formation in the faith. We must assume that responsibility”  (252).

“We want to appeal to those who practice violence. We ask them to abandon violent means to achieve their goals. Death and attacks on innocents will never be justifiable. The paths of violence cannot lead to true justice, neither for yourselves nor for others. You can still change if you want to. You can profess your feelings of humanity and recognize human solidarity”  (254).

“We address ourselves to those who, for whatever reason, have become involved in the various forms of organized crime. God calls them to conversion and his forgiveness is always ready, but they must repent. Think of the harm they are causing to a multitude of young people and adults from all segments of society. Human dignity cannot be trampled underfoot in this way. The harm caused receives the same rebuke given by Jesus to those who scandalized the ‘little ones,’ the beloved of God”  (255).

“We make a vehement appeal to those who produce and transport drugs, to those who engage in street-level drug dealing, to those who consume them, to the hitmen and all those involved in this nefarious business: repent and change your lives! Seek life and not death. God is always ready to forgive you; He only asks that you recognize your errors; that you repent of them and do not offend Him anymore by harming His children; that you repair the damage and withdraw from this deadly activity”  (256).

ACTIONS

We, as pastoral agents, must acknowledge our shortcomings in parish practice and pay closer attention not only to celebrations, but also to parents, children, and young people. Parents must better educate their children in the faith; they must not be content with simply sending them to catechism and Mass; education is a constant process, under all circumstances.