Friday, September 30, 2016

The world's most dangerous place to be a priest

Mexico CityWith 15 priests killed in the past four years, Mexico is the most dangerous country to exercise priestly ministry, according to the Archdiocese of Mexico. 

In a report published last week, the research unit of the Catholic Multimedia Centre recorded 14 murders of priests from 2012 to 2016. 

The death of Fr José Alfredo López Guillén, whose body was found the night of September 24, brings that number to 15.

Speaking to CNA, Archdiocese spokesman Fr Hugo Valdemar stated that “it has become clear that Mexico is the country where ministers of the Catholic Church are most at risk.”

“Which is even surprising because there is still more risk in Mexico than, for example, in Syria or in those countries where Christians are persecuted by the Islamic State.”

Just in the past week, three priests were murdered in the States of Veracruz and Michoacán. 

Fathers Alejo Nabor Jiménez Juárez and José Alfredo Juárez de la Cruz were kidnapped and then murdered in the town of Poza Rica in Veracruz.