Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
Mexico: New Law Makes Christians Increasingly Vulnerable to Persecution
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A new law intended to protect Indigenous Mexican communities may force Christians in Mexico to participate in traditional pagan practices on pain of legal repercussions, Christian Today (CT) reports.
The Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization has warned legislation passed in September may see Mexican Christians having to participate in such rituals as animal sacrifice if they want to avoid punishment by the government.
Considered obligatory, such rituals are followed by Indigenous groups who practice a combination of Catholic tradition with pre-Hispanic beliefs. Even before the new law was passed to protect these practices, those who did not participate could face fines, imprisonment, or expulsion from their communities.
“In many indigenous communities, religious customs are inseparable from community life,” Liz Cortés, a partner of Open Doors working in Mexico, told Christian Today.
“Christians who choose not to participate in these rituals are often seen as outsiders, disrupting the social order. This new reform essentially legitimizes this persecution by empowering local authorities to enforce these traditions as law, leaving Christians vulnerable to harassment and violence.”
“Christians are often cut off from essential services such as water and electricity,” Cortés said. “Their children are denied education, and they are barred from accessing health services. We respect the traditions of these communities, but we cannot stand by while Christians are forced to renounce their faith or face imprisonment, fines, and social exclusion. It is crucial that the Mexican government safeguards religious freedom alongside the autonomy of indigenous peoples.”
In a separate statement to Christian Today, Jorge Jiménez, a researcher for Open Doors in Mexico, explained: “By recognizing indigenous customs as public law, the government has essentially created a ‘fourth level’ of governance, making it difficult for Christian minorities to defend their rights under national law. Indigenous courts, which may be biased against Christians, could handle these cases, complicating legal recourse.”
Secular Mexico ranks 37 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
European policymakers, church leaders and representatives of Syria’s Christian communities have urged the country’s transitional authorities to protect minority Christians amid concerns over the future of believers in the war-torn Middle East nation.
A reported Houthi attack has struck Saudi Arabia’s strategically vital East-West oil pipeline, the massive cross-country system designed to keep Saudi crude flowing even when the Strait of Hormuz is threatened or closed.
Spanish-Moroccan relations, already strained over migration, faced more pressure Friday after Spain’s lower house of parliament approved legislation that would grant Spanish citizenship to tens of thousands of Sahrawis born when Madrid administered Western Sahara.
Russia launched fresh air attacks on Ukraine early Friday after NATO reportedly confronted Russian vessels trying to sabotage undersea cables, highlighting concerns that Moscow is attempting to extend the war by targeting Europe’s critical infrastructure.
Iran-backed Houthi forces seized Yemen’s strategic Red Sea port city of Mocha, raising fears for global shipping as escalating Middle East tensions pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel.
The United States and its allies are commemorating the 25th anniversary of the worst terror attacks on American soil, which had worldwide implications ranging from wars to increased surveillance.
Several impoverished Christians have died across Pakistan in recent days amid what advocates describe as a pattern of violence, discrimination and hardship potentially threatening the Christian community throughout the predominantly Muslim nation, Christian sources told Worthy News.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com