Honduras/Mexico: Criminal groups disrupt church life

Mexico | 26 April 2018

In Mexico, El Pais reported on 31 March 2018 that in Tamaulipas and Guerrero, the Holy Week processions were interrupted and suspended due to violence caused by clashes between armed groups and the police (in Tamaulipas) and the theft of a car (in Guerrero). Proceso reported on 5 March 2018 that homemade bombs exploded at a Catholic cathedral and other church in Matamoros. Also, Misiones Online reported on 6 April 2018 that in a Catholic church in El Dorado, Sinaloa, someone left a shoebox with a loaded revolver on the altar. Violent attacks against Christians have also occurred in Honduras, as reported by La Prensa on 1 April 2018. Suspected gang members used tear gas to attack a bus which was transporting Protestants to an Easter service. The Protestants stated that they had experienced threats and attacks before, but could not obtain protection from the authorities. Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, explains: "Mexico and Honduras suffer from particularly high levels of violence. This situation prevents Christians from expressing their faith freely because crime networks can strike at any time and with virtual impunity. This also discourages many Christians from participating in church activities. In the case of Honduras, the authorities remain indifferent to the complaints of persecution at the hands of gangs."