Police desecrate Eucharist at prison chapel in Mexico

Saltillo, Mexico, Jan 30, 2012 / 12:04 pm

A group of police officers desecrated the Eucharist at a prison chapel in Saltillo, Mexico on Jan. 23 during an unannounced search for weapons.

In the early hours of Jan. 23, federal, state and local police officers, together with members of the special forces, arrived at the prison for a surprise weapons search.

According to the Council of Catholic Analysts, the security forces “opened the tabernacle, removed the ciborium containing the consecrated hosts, and threw it on the ground. The hosts were left broken and scattered all over the floor.  “This information was verified by the chaplain in charge of prison ministry for the diocese,” the council said.

The Diocese of Saltillo issued a statement acknowledging the need to maintain security in the prison but criticizing “the disproportionate use of public force, and in this case, the profanation of a chapel, which regardless of whether it had belonged to protestant brethren or to members of another religious confession, would equally have obliged us to issue a protest.”

“There is no possible justification for what has happened,” the diocese continued.  “These actions are a profound assault not only on the Catholic community of Saltillo, but on the entire diocese, the universal Church and society, which is angered by the violent actions contrary to human dignity committed at this detention center.”

“In addition to attacking the faith of the majority in Mexico, they also violate the rights to religious freedom, as well as the rights enjoyed by those persons deprived of their freedom and that are recognized by the Constitution of Mexico,” the diocese said.

The Diocese of Saltillo held an act of reparation at the chapel on Jan. 27.