Adventists oppressed in Mexico

[Woody]

Christians, Including Adventists, Oppressed by Catholics in Mexico

Posted November 26th, 2008 by News Editor

As the number of evangelical Christians in southern Mexico has grown, hostilities and persecution from “traditionalist Catholics” have kept pace, according to published reports.

The Compass Direct News writes:

In the community of Nachit, municipality of Zinacantan, Chiapas, five indigenous Christians were jailed for 24 hours on Nov. 4 for refusing to accept work assignments related to traditionalist Catholic festivals, according to the National Confraternity of Evangelical Christian Churches. Local officials ordered them to give up their Christian faith or they would “invent some crimes with which to accuse them and get them imprisoned,” according to Chiapas newspaper Expreso.

Also in Chiapas, Mexico’s southern-most state, local political bosses (caciques) deprived 24 evangelical families of a Seventh-Day Adventist church in Muctavits, municipality of San Andres Larrainzar, of their rights to government social programs, according to news reports. Local officials made the decision on Nov. 3 and a week later said they would fine the Christians 3,000 pesos (US$220) if they refused to contribute funds toward traditionalist Catholic festivals, according to Expreso.

Officials have also threatened to cut off the Christians’ electricity and water, church representative Hortencio Vasquez told La Jornada, and have eliminated all their community rights, thus depriving some evangelicals of their service on local government committees.

[Joe_in_RP]

These are no idle threats. I have noticed the RC has turned up the heat. In Philippines non catholic relatives are barred from attending funeral services.

Stan they are calling us "evangelical's" . This is not a coincidence. They want to marginalize us.

[Dr. Shane]

I think the word "evangelical" is chosen by the interpreter. In Spanish they call us "cristianos" which is literally translated "Christians". Catholics are "catolicos". Even here in South Texas many use the term "Christian" in English interchangeably with the words "Protestant" and "Evangelical". Catholics in the Latin culture are proud of being Catholic and don't call themselves Christians like the most North American Catholics do.

[Kountzer]

I've talked to mexican nationals here about religion. I asked them if they were catholic and they replied no, I am christian, which I found curious.

DB