Archdiocese of Mexico City accuses lawmakers of attempting to silence the Church

Mexico City, Mexico, Feb 15, 2010 / 23:08 pm

The Archdiocese of Mexico City issued a press release last week condemning a bill created to amend the country's constitution to include the word “secular.” The archdiocesan spokesman explained that the measure is “irrationally anti-religious,” and is “intended to regulate and subjugate the Church in matters relating to her evangelistic and social mission.”

The vote in favor of including the word “secular” in Article 40 of the Mexican constitution was approved with 363 out of 372 votes. The archdiocese responded saying that the measure, which still must be approved by the Senate, was a slap against the Catholic Church, which constantly speaks out in favor of life and the family, and in opposition to same-sex marriage and adoption.

Before the vote, the Director of Communications for the Archdiocese of Mexico City, Father Hugo Valdemar Romero, warned that it was becoming evident that the true intention of lawmakers from the Democratic Revolution Party was to silence the Church and Christian leaders.

“It is unfortunate that this reform has not included the recognition of full respect for religious freedom, a commitment called for the InterAmerican Convention on Human Rights which Mexico has yet to fulfill,” he said.

The archdiocese also lamented that lawmakers from some parties, such as the National Action Party, have abandoned their historic defense of the freedoms that all men enjoy by supporting “this negative concept of a secular state, which will undoubtedly promote religious intolerance and a cold shoulder to freedom, to the detriment of the human rights of believers and clergy members.”