Mexico: High numbers of attacks on church leaders

Several Roman Catholic priests in Mexico have been attacked in the last weeks. According to Church in Need (as quoted by the news platform, El Heraldo de Chihuahua, on 17 February 2017), Mexico ranks number one in attacks on Roman Catholic priests for the sixth consecutive year, with most deaths occurring where priests work in drug-trafficking areas. The latest victims are Andres Verƒ³nica Fernandez (who is assumed to have been abducted according to NWNoticias reporting on 2 February 2017) and Joaquƒ­n Hernƒ¡ndez Sifuentes (who was found murdered, as reported by The Excelsior on 12 February 2017). Rossana Ramirez, working for World Watch Research, confirms: "Many priests are victims of organized crime because they actively evangelize and seek to banish practices which harm society - such as drug-dealing. According to Open Doors World Watch List 2017, a ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face most persecution for their faith, Mexico ranks 41 with 57 points and has registered extreme levels of violence against Christians over the last two years."