Mexican prosecutors have for the first time brought charges against a Catholic priest for allegedly meddling in politics.
Prosecutors accuse the priest and two former mayoral candidates of
participating in a Mass at a church in the town of Chiautla, in the
state of Mexico.
The priest allegedly blessed the candidates, and the
Mass was allegedly touted as the opening of their campaigns.
Prosecutors said Tuesday that this is first time a priest has been
charged with “vote pressuring,” an offence punishable by a fine.
Mexico walks a fine line in allowing Church figures to preach, but doesn’t allow it to endorse candidates.
The country’s once-strict anti-clerical laws sparked a 1926-29
uprising by Roman Catholics known as the Cristero War that killed tens
of thousands.