Catholics in Mexico

[brigid12]

Not all of the border areas were created equal. The more famous borders like San Diego/Tijuana, El Paso/Ciudad Juárez could perhaps have a “big city” phenomenon, meaning that the locals can be rather reserved and not so open, due to a large anonymous population in the area (similar to any other metropolis in the interior).

But if you ever visit Mexican border towns which are small (e.g. Eagle Pass/Piedras Negras, Del Rio/Ciudad Acuña), you’ll see that the people are very friendly and violent crime is virtually unheard of.

Very likely, true. And neither I nor my parents have been to those you speak about.

 

[hays1122]

And to conclude, remember that 2000 years ago Jesus Himself once lived among men. His presence was not enough to have a positive influence on the elder Pharisees and Jews. In the end, these people were similar to Mexico’s narcs and wanted to kill an innocent man.

That’s a very good point. If Jesus himself didn’t turn people away from violence. Though he did his best to teach and set the example.
It’s so sad.

 

[JW10631]

Mexico has long been controlled by an elite class who has been hostile to the Catholic Church. The bloody Mexican Revolution that took place in the early part of the 20th century sought to eradicate the Catholic Church. Pirests and nuns were executied. Church properties were confiscated and clerics were forbidden to wear anything but secular clothes in public.

That government action was not teh first time the Mexican government has been hostile to the Catholic faith.

When John Paul II visited Mexico in 1979, it was still illegal for any cleric to wear religious garb. That did not stop the Holy Father and neither the Mexican government nor their rabidly secular media said a word in protest.

 

[hays1122]

Mexico has long been controlled by an elite class who has been hostile to the Catholic Church. The bloody Mexican Revolution that took place in the early part of the 20th century sought to eradicate the Catholic Church. Pirests and nuns were executied. Church properties were confiscated and clerics were forbidden to wear anything but secular clothes in public.

That government action was not teh first time the Mexican government has been hostile to the Catholic faith.

When John Paul II visited Mexico in 1979, it was still illegal for any cleric to wear religious garb. That did not stop the Holy Father and neither the Mexican government nor their rabidly secular media said a word in protest.

I sure never heard all that before.
That’s what I like about this site. I have learned so much from the members here.
I’m becoming more and more Catholic I think.
Merry Christmas!

 

[mystified]

For all its failings, the Salinas administration did some good things, among which were to restore privileges of citizenship and the right to wear clerical garb to priests.

 

[RobHom]

I have been to Mexico, and my preference runs to smaller towns, as the likelihood of crime is much lower and the people tend to be friendlier. I’ve been to Mexico City, and while it was interesting, it reminded me of NY, Chicago, Cleveland and others, except that the predominant language was Spanish.

Mordida as its called, is a historical thing…translated its “the bite”, and its a bribe to someone. They tend to see it as a way of doing business…even though they object to it.

Mexico has the drug crimes that they have because there is big money in it, and big bribes go a long way. If you read this article you will be able to understand why they have the problems they have. ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38075

I went to Palomas, Mexico to have dental work done…and paid $260.00 for each of my crowns. The clinic was as modern as any in the states, and the Dentist was actually educated not only in Mexico, but the US as well. The same crown here in the US will cost you about $1000.00.

Money talks, no it screams loudly, not only there, but here as well…the difference between them and us…is that our system of law and government is run a bit differently and always has.

The average Mexican is hard working and decent…and they are a friendly people as a whole. Their legal system is not the same as ours…mexonline.com/lawreview.htm

 

[Chancellare]

Those cops in Juárez are pikers. I was fined $80 for sitting in a parked car, off the street, without wearing a seat belt in Guadalajara.

Just as there are bad apples in the US, and not just high-ranking politicians, there are criminals in México.

A huge majority, beyond the Catholics are law-abiding, to the point that in one place with which I am familiar, the highest elected official hired a former US Army Military Policeman, a naturalized US citizen from that city, to be the new police chief, then backed the new chief when he fired the whole department and hired new people who were sent to law enforcement school before allowing them a badge or gun.

I have a friend in another state where the general population has become tired of the drug traffic and cops being paid off. Some of the citizens are now detaining suspects and calling the Federales. The latter are mostly no-nonsense types who will pull the trigger on a known traficante if he makes a false move. My friend knows some of these things up close; her uncle was recently arrested as a capo’s bodyguard and is now in custody in México City.

I chanced upon an Mexico analyst who explained the difficulties of law enforcement there:

1. The local governments have no adequate local police force in the same level as that in US sherrif system. This leads to pay-offs and utter incompetence.
2. Organized crime have more resources and competence than the local police. This leads to non-enforcement. Just to make an arrest they have to call the centralized “federales” who come from a few hundred miles away and have no local knowledge.
3. Multiply 1 and 2 for the total number of drug-crimes, you have a sizeable problem.

 

[KingAlfred]

I’ve been hearing about all the horrible murders and drug cartels creating such war like conditions in Mexico.
And I was thinking about the fact that Mexico is about 90% Catholic.
How can there be so much murdering and killing when those people are always praying and going to Mass.
I mean when ever I’ve been across the border as a tourist. I see pictures and other religious objects all over businesses and homes.
They seem to be very religious people. And very dedicated Catholics.
Yet on the news It’s looking more like a Muslim country.
What’s going on?
Are the Catholics in Mexico different kind of Catholics?

As much as I hate to say this, I feel I must. I lived in Latin America for 3.5 years, and have studied its history and Spanish my entire life. Bottom line: Catholicism is so pervasive and overwhelming in Latin American societies, many people take it for granted, become numb to it, and almost dismiss it as something pertinent to their daily lives. It’s sort of analgous to the importance of the Bible in American society (remembering that America is a predominantly Protestant nation). How can so many Americans commit horrendous crimes in a society supposedly based on the Bible, in large part? Also, in Latin America, poverty is so severe, people are driven to hideous extremes.

 

[OriginalJS]

“many who still claim to be Catholic are Catholic in name only”

Ever see any evidence of that in the U.S.?

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

Ever see any evidence of that in the U.S.?

Ya think? Just last night, I saw an interview with one of the Kennedy women about her new book, “Being Catholic”. In the interview she proudly said, “I see no problem with same sex marriages.” Go figure.

 

[Bullfighter]

A lot of those “Catholics” though are not really, but are more just superstitious than anything. Many belong to the cult of “Santa Muerte”

Thanks for the information.

I found these articles about the subject. It does not belong in the Catholic religion that I know. It would be like trying to worship God and satan at the same time, so you won’t make an enemy of either!

time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1671984,00.html

ipsnews.net/interna.asp?idnews=22186

socyberty.com/Death/The-Strange-Cult-of-Santa-Muerte-Saint-Death.346735