Catholic Church calls for national dialogue in the face of the insecurity crisis in Mexico
The Mexican Catholic Church calls on religious leaders and the public for a national conversation and walk to address the security crisis
After authorities in Mexico announced the arrest of two women and a man, investigated for the disappearance and murder of priest Ernesto Baltazar Hernandez Vilchis, the National Dialogue for Peace (DNP) movement, part of the Mexican Catholic Church, called on religious leaders and the public for a national conversation and walk to address the crisis of Homicides, extortion, forced disappearances, and the recruitment of minors that “dominate large regions” of the country will be commemorated on November 23. “In synergy with the Episcopal Dimension for the Laity, we call upon you to carry out actions for peace: walks, celebrations, discussions, family gatherings, youth retreats, or parish or ecumenical days of prayer for the disappeared in the main squares of your towns,” the National Planning Department (DNP) stated in a press release. In this statement, the DNP emphasized that to build peace, all three levels of government must “recognize the structural violence” that pervades the country, as well as the insecurity that “prevails in the territory, fueled by impunity, corruption, and complicity.” Furthermore, it emphasized that within the framework of the commemorations, the government will be reminded of seven actions to address the country's violence, as well as 14 other actions that civil society must promote to create conditions for peace.
The case of Father Ernesto Baltazar Hernandez Vilchis caused widespread outrage, given that he was a parish priest who dedicated 43 years to religious service.
He was in charge of the Holy Cross parish in Tultepec, where parishioners recognized him as a close, active, and committed priest. His disappearance, which occurred on October 27, shocked the northern part of the State of Mexico and led to an intense search that ended with a tragic discovery.
The mobilization also called on the various government bodies to uphold the commitments to peace made during the election campaigns.
Among them, He recalled that during the campaign and during the presentation of her First Government Report on September 1, the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum,touted the National Security Strategy, which aims to address the root causes of violence, consolidate the National Guard, strengthen intelligence and investigation, and coordinate institutions at all three levels of government.