Government officials offer to provide security at Mexico City Cathedral

Mexico City, Mexico, Nov 9, 2006 / 22:00 pm

Following an announcement that the Archdiocese of Mexico City might suspend liturgical celebrations due to the threat of some radical groups, a top government official in Mexico has offered to provide security at the Cathedral of Mexico City.  According to a press release, the archdiocese was concerned that protests similar to those which occurred during a Mass on November 5th could happen again.

“The city government, in collaboration with church authorities and the federal government, is willing to guarantee security during the celebration of religious acts at the Cathedral,” said Alejandro Encinas said during a press conference.  

His statements came as the Archdiocese of Mexico City announced that in the event of “another violent intrusion and if authorities are not able to guarantee freedom of worship and the well-being of the faithful, we reserve the right to order a suspension of worship” in order to prevent “profanation of the most sublime and sacred Sacrament for Catholics, which is the Eucharist.”

The archdiocese called on national and local authorities to provide the necessary guarantees to the Archbishop of Mexico City, Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera, and to the faithful, who are exposed “to the barbarian sacrilege of the aggressors, who have threatened to return.”