Mexican Pastor Arrested, Bound, and Exiled From Community For Refusing To Bow To Catholic Statue

[Asia Joe]

 

 

 

AGENCY

ICC / Press

February 7, 2026

In a village in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, a pastor was arrested and forced from his community for refusing to bow to the statue of a saint.

In November 2025, Protestant Pastor Mariano Velásquez Martínez begrudgingly agreed to be one of the community’s “mayordomos,” the overseer of religious festivals. Local Catholics promised he would be exempt from participating in Catholic festivals and would only have to provide the candles and flowers for the celebration.

On Jan. 15, the pastor was ordered to pray to an image of St. James during a festival. When he refused, another mayordomo reported him to local authorities, who arrested him.

After five days, officials bound him with a rope, led him out before 180 men — among whom were his uncle and cousin — and expelled him from the community. They forced him to sign a document explaining his departure. Without a copy of his own, Martínez fears the story was fabricated to portray him as having left voluntarily.

The pastor, his wife, and their 3-month-old baby now temporarily live with relatives in Oaxaca City. He leaves behind his mother, four brothers, and a 25-member church, Iglesia Camino Nuevo y Vivo.

https://harbingersdaily.com/mexican-pastor-arrested-bound-and-exiled-from-community-for-refusing-to-bow-to-catholic-statue/

[Gustave]

I just read up on this incident. It shouldn't have happened & I hope the Mexican Govt exercises it's Forced Displacement Law against those that basically ran this guy out on a rail. The Pastor is part of a Restorationist (Non-Trinitarian) movement called Iglesia Camino Nuevo. So, it's not really "Protestant", it's Restorationist. 

If the article I read was true - this man had an agreement prior to his accepting the mayordomo position and that agreement was that he would indeed lead the parade, provide flowers and candle to the Statue of St. James (to include lighting the candles) but would NOT kneel and pray to an image of St. James. I