Mexico/Chiapas
Basic Info: Chiapas is the southern most state of Mexico and borders Guatemala. It has the ruins of five ancient Mayan city states within its borders, and about 25% of the population are either of full or predominately Mayan descent. The area is mostly made up of poor, rural, small farmers and many people in rural areas do not even speak Spanish. The state has the highest rate of malnutrition in Mexico, affecting more than 40% of the population. The Mexican Constitution grants religious freedom with some restrictions, such as only gathering in their own building and church leaders are not allowed to criticize Mexico’s laws or authorities.
Persecution: Persecution in Mexico, especially in Chiapas, Oaxaca and Hildalgo, has been increasing in severity over the last 12 years and includes everything from beatings, to land/home seizures, to murder of Christians who will not abandon Christ. The Catholic Church loses more priests to persecution by the narcos in Chiapas than anywhere else on earth. Many victims of persecution are indigenous Mexicans, not those of Spanish descent. They are poor, uneducated, unaware of their rights, and culturally marginalized (many don’t even speak Spanish).
In Chiapas, due to the Mayan descent of most of the population, Catholicism has been blended with traditionalist pagan practices creating what is known as traditionalist communities. These traditionalists sponsor “festivals” 13 times a year, like the Day of the Dead, and many villages require residents to pay a fee to cover the costs of the event. However, many evangelicals say that these festivals are really just drunken orgies, and refuse to participate or pay for them. This has resulted in believers being jailed, even though there is no law requiring them to pay for the festivals. Reprisals, such as the destruction and burning of church buildings has occurred as well. Traditionalists have even threatened to burn the Christians inside the church, and leaders face death threats.
According to the Coordination of Christian Organizations of Chiapas, some villages placed signs around the towns banning admittance to Protestants. In one such town in June of last year, a Presbyterian pastor was arbitrarily detained and beaten while vising family in the village. In December of last year, according to a report by a local NGO, villagers in San Juan Chamula municipality were attacked and beaten and their utility services were cut off after they refused to make financial contributions to the village’s Catholic festivals. According to some NGOs and religious leaders, there were instances where local authorities denied access to public cemeteries to non-Catholic community members. In January the village church council in Comachuen, Michoacan said a Protestant man could not be buried in the village cemetery because his family had not participated in local Catholic events. The municipal government negotiated a temporary resolution in which Protestant families would pay a semi-annual contribution that would not be used for Catholic events.
Santa Muerte
began as an underground movement with deep roots in the Aztec goddess of the
underworld. She is depicted as a
skeleton dressed as a bride carrying a scythe. It is believed that she can
grant miracles, like the Catholic saints, but without passing judgement. She accepts all who prostrate at her feet and
makes no preference for those who lead an amoral or virtuous life. Her devotion is considered unique and
astonishing because she does not require her followers to forsake all others
and remain faithful to her. Instead, she asks for special offerings. Her followers erect altars and offer lit
candles, fruit, alcohol, and flowers.
However, her extreme devotion regularly requires a blood sacrifice.
Since Santa
Muerte does not judge one’s actions, she has become the favorite goddess of
those marginalized by society, such as homosexual and transgender individuals,
criminals, and the drug cartels. Drug
cartels have been known to call on her for protection and victory, in some
cases dragging their victims before her shrine and spilling their blood. Some have even taken the heads of their
victims and offered them as burnt sacrifices.
As always there is a darker side.
In interviews with the Houston Press, several followers
said that you must make a promise if you ask La Santa Muerte for a favor. If
you don’t keep that promise, she can take away a loved one.
While Mexico
has been fighting for years in their bloody war against the drug cartels, many
people have lost faith in the church and see no justice or reprieve from the
corruption and bloodshed plaguing their country. Therefore, many people are flocking to this
cult to find salvation and liberation from injustice-injustice from government
and even religious officials. It is
estimated by Andrew Chesnut, the author of Devoted
To Death: Santa Muerte, The Skeleton Saint, that the folk saint boasts
between 10 and 12 million devotees.
-----------------------------------
Persecution in our Backyard: Mexico (2015)
Saint Death offered Marijuana by Mexicans
A Saint for Sinners
Mexican Cult Murders Children (2012)
-----------------------------------
Persecution in our Backyard: Mexico (2015)
Saint Death offered Marijuana by Mexicans
A Saint for Sinners
Mexican Cult Murders Children (2012)
