By BosNewsLife Americas Service with reporting by BosNewsLife’s Stefan J. Bos
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (BosNewsLife)– At least 70 evangelical Christians in Mexico’s east-central region were homeless Saturday, September 17, after being expelled by local authorities from their village where traditional Catholics reportedly threatened to “crucify or lynch” them.
The government of Puebla state “bowed” to pressure from the traditional Catholics in San Rafael Tlanalapan village, some 96 kilometers (60 miles) from the capital Mexico City, reported Mexico’s leading La Jornada de Oriente newspaper.
Initially about 50 Protestant families were ordered to leave the village by September 12, because they allegedly tried to evangelize and convert traditional Catholics to evangelical Christianity. But some were allowed to stay under condition they would worship outside the area. Additionally they are not allowed to intervene with traditional Catholics, who practice a mix of indigenous and Catholic rituals.
“There is an agreement reached with the local authority that those evangelicals have to go who are not originating from the area as the state government can not guarantee their safety,” La Jornada de Oriente quoted regional government official Roberto Solano Pineda as saying.
PICKING UP BELONGINGS
Witnesses earlier said they saw several evangelicals, including a pastor, arriving with suitcases to quickly pick up their belongings. Traditional Catholics told them they would be “crucified or lynched” if they dared to stay after the September 12 ultimatum, locals and reporters said.
The mayor did not stop the expulsions amid fears he could be expelled himself by Catholics, Mexican media reported.
Catholic Irma Diaz Perez told local television he was pleased as “They will never return, because we have drawn up a document wherein they have no permission to come back now or ever.”
A few residents who agreed to discuss the issue with reporters said they regretted that authorities did not pressure local priest, identified as Benítez González, to halt the expulsions.
YEARS OF TENSIONS
Tensions date back to 2006 when local Catholics reportedly refused to connect evangelical residents to a water network. Officials also reported attacks against evangelical families in previous years.
Evangelical Pastor Josué Jiménez Ovando said he had provided videos of the attacks to authorities, but the local Catholic church has denied wrongdoing.
There have been several attacks against evangelicals in Mexico, a heavily traditional Catholic nation, and some were held for crimes they did not commit.
In 2009 twenty men, most of them evangelical Christians, were freed after spending more than a decade in prison after Mexico’s Supreme Court overturned their sentences in a massacre in southern Chiapas state.
Mexico’s top court ruled that prosecutors used illegally obtained evidence to charge the men with involvement in killing 45 Indian villagers, including children as young as two months old, on December 22, 1997, in the hamlet of Acteal.
Oh, merciful God! Is this cruel nonsense still going on? We all need so badly to grow up. Catholics need to heed Dignitatus Humanae published by the second Vatican Council over forty years ago. What’s the matter with the local bishop and pastor?
What is new, the ancient pagan cult of the queen of heaven carries on as it always has. Unreal. Pathetic genocidal blood lusting pagans. Wicked worshipers of the dead who are so in fear of loosing their place in the afterlife that they feel the need to crucify Bible believers. The more I read this kind of crap going on the more I believe that maybe some people don’t even have souls/spirits unless they are truly saved, and they are just like the animals, beyond the capability of even reason itself, just led about by blood lust like cannibals and wild dogs.
Is it me, or did this article never actually say “why” these Protestants were being expelled?
Dear JKP,
Good point. While we tried to do that further in the story, we have adjusted the third paragraph. Initially about 50 Protestant families were ordered to leave the village by September 12, because they allegedly tried to evangelize and convert traditional Catholics to evangelical Christianity.
Hope that explains it better.
Best regards,
Stefan J. Bos, BosNewsLife
These kind of treatment to the people of God, who help preach the gospel was no longer new. We all know that even the Apostles of Christ did suffer persecution.
Our Lord Jesus was not welcome in his hometown when He was preaching. Jesus, suffer insults and have to leave.
Satan have but a few time. And Satan will do anything to stop anyone who spread the good news and preaching in the name of God. Much more will happen as we are nearing the end.
I thought the the Pope was the head guy for all Catholics, why isn’t he stopping this. I would love to hear what the Pope has to say about this kind of “Christian” behavior and what excuse he would make for the local Bishop/Priests allowing this to happen. Christians should not be mistreating anyone in this manner. What happened to love thy neighbor?
It was happen in the past. Look back in the history and see. They did that to the reformers in Europe. Those who oppose their teching in the light of the Word of God, they killed, like Martin Luther and the other reformers.
This is the sign that the Lord Jesus christ is coming very soon. Those who remain faithful till the end will be save and He reject those who will reject Him and denied Him.
I thought It was happen only to Muslim world, but it also happen in the so called “christian” world.
Lord, Pls protect my brethren in Mexico, in Jesus name, amen!
This is not just in the past, this is still going on all over the world. Many Christians are persucuted for their faith. Some even killed. I just happen to be reading the book “Voice of the Martyrs”. The attrocities that have taken place and still happen today is unbelievable. But more than anything else I am encouraged and blessed by the people that love and serve the Lord regardless of what has done to them. Christ paid the ultimate sacrifice even for those that torture His followers. Look at Paul in the scriptures and all he did to the believers before he chose to follow Christ.
As Christians we are told to pray for our enemies. It is God’s place to deal with them.
The one question I have for myself is: “Do I love Christ enough that I could face my enemies and never turn my back on my Lord.” Before you judge me, ask yourself that question when someone is standing there asking you to denounce Christ or die.
I pray for a relationship so close with Him that I can say “Not I, but Christ …..”
Poor people. I am a devout Catholic and I feel for them. This shouldn’t be the way it is supposed to be. I will pray for these People who got expelled and to those Catholics who persecute them.
With Love in Christ,
RCP
One must remember the violoence and intolerance od America’s first “settlers”: First Settlers Of America Loved Theocracy:
“The Puritans of the Massachusetts Bay Colony were the most active of the New England persecutors of Quakers, and the persecuting spirit was shared by the Plymouth Colony and the colonies along the Connecticut river. In 1660, one of the most notable victims of the religious intolerance was English Quaker Mary Dyer who was hanged in Boston, Massachusetts for repeatedly defying a Puritan law banning Quakers from the colony. As one of the four executed Quakers known as the Boston martyrs, the hanging of Dyer on the Boston gallows marked the beginning of the end of the Puritan theocracy and New England independence from English rule. In 1661 King Charles II explicitly forbade Massachusetts from executing anyone for professing Quakerism. In 1684 England revoked the Massachusetts charter, sent over a royal governor to enforce English laws in 1686, and in 1689 passed a broad Toleration act.” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puritan#Opposition_to_Quakerism)
First Settlers Wanted Religious Freedom, Yet Acted The Same Way As Those They Fled From:
First Some Quote From One Of Founding Fathers George Washington
“The Citizens of the United States of America have a right to applaud themselves for having given to mankind examples of an enlarged and liberal policy: a policy worthy of imitation. All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship. It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.” ~ George Washington’s Response to Moses Seixas, August 21st, 1790
” …the path of true piety is so plain as to require but little political direction.” ~ George Washington, 1789, responding to clergy complaints that the Constitution lacked mention of Jesus Christ, from The Godless Constitution: The Case Against Religious Correctness, Isacc Kramnick and R. Laurence Moore W.W. Norton and Company 101-102]
“…I beg you be persuaded that no one would be more zealous than myself to establish effectual barriers against the horrors of spiritual tyranny, and every species of religious persecution.” ~ George Washington, to United Baptists Churches of Virginia, May, 1789 from The Washington papers edited by Saul Padover
“As the contempt of the religion of a country by ridiculing any of its ceremonies, or affronting its ministers or votaries, has ever been deeply resented, you are to be particularly careful to restrain every officer from such imprudence and folly, and to punish every instance of it. On the other hand, as far as lies in your power, you are to protect and support the free exercise of religion of the country, and the undisturbed enjoyment of the rights of conscience in religious matters, with your utmost influence and authority.” ~ George Washington, to Benedict Arnold, September 14, 1775 from The Washington papers edited by Saul Padover
“The blessed Religion revealed in the word of God will remain an eternal and awful monument to prove that the best Institutions may be abused by human depravity; and that they may even, in some instances, be made subservient to the vilest of purposes.“ Source: http://atheism.about.com/library/quotes/bl_q_GWashington.htm
=-=-=-=-=-=-=
The First Settlers In America Wanted Religious Freedom:
“Pilgrims wishing to flee persecution and find religious freedom traveled to America and formed the Plymouth Colony in 1620.” (1)
“The Quakers were persecuted by the English and wished to have a colony in America. William Penn received a grant which the King called Pennsylvania. Penn wished to begin a “holy experiment.” The first settlement was Philadelphia. This colony quickly became one of the largest in the New World.”
However, Just As It Is Today, One Religious Belief Wanted To Control All Others:
“Roger Williams argued for freedom of religion and separation of church and state. He was banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony and founded Providence. Anne Hutchinson was also banished from Massachusetts and she settled Portsmouth. Two additional settlements formed in the area and all four received a charter from England creating their own government eventually called Rhode Island.”(2)
“The year 1620 saw the establishment of a colony in New England, when the Puritans crossed the Atlantic and landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts. The Crown did not charter these pilgrims; rather, they were fleeing England in search of greater religious freedom and tolerance.” (3)
“In 1628, another group of Puritans formed the Massachusetts Bay Colony, settling in the Boston area, and from there, religious leaders dispersed with followers to establish settlements in neighboring states. Oddly enough in light of their own desire for freedom from religious persecution, the Puritans were an intolerant bunch, and in 1636, upstart preacher Roger Williams, who asserted, “forced worship stinks in God’s nostrils,” established the colony of Rhode Island after being banished from the Massachusetts Bay Colony.” (4)
“The Mormons are the members of a Christian Millenarian movement, also known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. In 1823, Joseph Smith (1805–1844) claimed to have visions and published his mystical writings as the Book of Mormon (1829). ….. Smith organized the first Mormon community in Fayette, New York, but soon encountered persecution, not to mention disagreements within the community….. In June 1844, following a general breakdown in order, Smith was lynched and assassinated by a mob in Carthage, Illinois.” (5)
“The Quakers, a Christian group, are also known as the Society of Friends, thus members are called Friends. George Fox (1624–1691), a nonconformist religious reformer ….. When the Quakers came to the United States, they didn’t fare any better than they had at home. They were looked at as witches, and many were hanged. They eventually settled in Rhode Island, known for its religious tolerance ….. The Revolutionary War sparked resentment against the Quakers again because they refused to pay military taxes or to join in the fighting. Some of them were even exiled.” (6)
“The Role of Religion in Colonial Life – Because their beliefs were based on independent congregations, free of the church hierarchy that existed back in England, the settlers became known as Congregationalists. Attendance at Sunday services was mandatory, and with the work required to thrive in the colonies, that left little leisure time. There was no dancing, no real recreation. Ironically, life was reminiscent of times past. The punishment for any crime committed was harsh, and those who spoke out against the puritanical dictates were persecuted. Indeed, the Puritans proved to be as intolerant as the king they had fled. In 1636, Thomas Hooker led more than a hundred settlers from Massachusetts to Connecticut to escape what was perceived as the harsh rule of the Puritans. … The Quakers were banished from the colony when they dared to disagree, and others fled for religious and economic reasons to establish other New England towns. Among them was Roger Williams, a Puritan minister, who founded a settlement around 1635 that became the colony of Rhode Island.” (7)
“In 1628 a group of Puritans, led by John Winthrop and Thomas Dudley, persuaded King James to grant them an area of land between the Massachusetts Bay and Charles River in North America. That year the group sent John Endecott to begin a plantation in Salem…… Massachusetts was virtually independent of the Britain. Its government was representative, although the franchise was restricted to church members. Non-Puritans were allowed to reside in the colony but were forbidden participation in the government. Thomas Dudley and John Winthrop did not always agree about the way the colony should be ruled. Whereas Winthrop was tolerant and liberal, Dudley favoured the expulsion of any person he considered to be a heretic. It was Dudley who managed to get Anne Hutchinson and her followers removed from the colony.” (8)
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
NOTES & SOURCES:
Main Sources
NetPlaces.com , AmericanHistory.About.com, Atheism.About.com, CivilLiberty.About.com
Notes:
1. Overview of Colonial America 1607 – 1754, The Thirteen Colonies By Martin Kelly, About.com Guide
2. Overview of Colonial America 1607 – 1754, The Thirteen Colonies By Martin Kelly, About.com Guide
3. Settling the New World by Nick Ragone
4. A Brief History of the Region by Kim Knox Beckius
5. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: The Mormons by Kenneth Shouler, Ph.D
6. Quakers by Kenneth Shouler, Ph.D.
7. Massachusetts Bay Colony by John R. McGeehan, M.A.
8. Spartacus.Schoolnet.co.uk
0-0-0-0-0-0-0
“Of all the animosities which have existed among mankind, those which are caused by difference of sentiments in religion appear to be the most inveterate and distressing, and ought most to be deprecated. I was in hopes that the enlightened and liberal policy, which has marked the present age, would at least have reconciled Christians of every denomination so far that we should never again see the religious disputes carried to such a pitch as to endanger the peace of society.”~ George Washington, letter to Edward Newenham, October 20, 1792; from George Seldes, ed., The Great Quotations, Secaucus, New Jersey: Citadel Press, 1983, p. 726]
Isaiah 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said to be bountiful.
I used to be able to find good information from your articles.