Mexico City, Mexico, Jun 11, 2012 / 12:54 pm
The Archdiocese of Mexico City has denounced a group of "professional activists" linked to the Democratic Revolution Party for profaning a June 7 Corpus Christi procession in Zocalo plaza.
The activists "profaned an act of worship by shouting insults as the Blessed Sacrament passed by," the archdiocese said in a statement released through its news service.
The Mexico City archdiocese said it was saddened by "this aggression against the faith of the Catholic people."
These types of incidents show that "the freedom of expression of Catholics is not guaranteed in the self-described 'City of Freedoms,'" the archdiocese said.
The city regularly provides up to 500 police officers for other public events, the archdiocese noted, but in this case they failed to stop the same activists who gather every Sunday near the cathedral to shout insults against the Pope, the Church and Catholics.
"We pray to God for forgiveness for those who, without the slightest sign of tolerance, offend Him and the faith of Catholics," the archdiocese stated.
Sources from the archdiocese told CNA the group linked to the Democratic Revolution Party was comprised of 25 people who also took part in the violent 2007 profanation of the Cathedral of Mexico City, which had to be closed until new security measures were put in place.