Latin American bishops are urging church officials to reopen Mexico City's famous cathedral, which was closed five days ago after more than 100 protesters barged into the cavernous building and interrupted Sunday Mass.In a letter released Friday by the church, the Latin American Episcopal Council asked Roman Catholic Cardinal Norberto Rivera to reopen the cathedral so that "Mexico's faithful can use it."
"The interruption in the cathedral went against Mexican culture and the church," the letter said. It called the pretext for closing the cathedral "totally absurd."
The letter was released as eight Mexican bishops met to decide whether to reopen the world-renowned building on Mexico City's central Zocalo square. No decision was announced.
Rivera said Sunday that the cathedral doors would remain shut until city officials could guarantee the building's security.
Mexico City's leftist mayor, Marcelo Ebrard, increased security at Rivera's request weeks ago after several smaller protests in the cathedral. However, Sunday's demonstrators were able to get past police, scaring away churchgoers and overturning pews.
The protesters said they were angry that the cathedral's bells tolled longer than normal, drowning out a speech during a rally in favor of former leftist presidential candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who claims conservative President Felipe Calderon robbed him of last year's election.
Church officials said the call to Mass was routine and not designed to interrupt the rally.
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