Cuernavaca, Mexico, Aug 16, 2016 / 21:02 pm
Amid allegations of interference in politics after receiving demonstrators critical of the governor of the state of Morelos, Bishop Ramón Castro Castro of Cuernavaca has said he is not afraid of facing prison.
" If I go to prison, no problem; from there I'll do the work of evangelization," Bishop Castro told local daily El Sol de Cautla.
"We're awaiting notification, and I want to thank the Cuernavaca Bar Association, which lent me their support by coming to my defense," he added.
Bishop Castro hosted at the Cuernavaca cathedral July 28 more than 100 people from various civil organizations who expressed criticism of Graco Ramírez, governor of Morelos, because of the difficulties facing the state.
Cuernavaca, the capital of Morelos, was among the 50 most violent cities in the world until 2014, according to the Mexican Citizens Council for Public Safety and Criminal Justice.
And the city has the fourth highest murder rate in the nation.
The Party of the Democratic Revolution, to which Ramirez belongs, filed a complaint against Bishop Castro for allegedly interfering in politics, in violation of the country's laws.
The political party also accused him of homophobia for participating in a massive march in support of the family and against same-sex marriage.
The priests of Cuernavaca, in a statement released Aug. 13, expressed their "gratitude and … unwavering support" for Bishop Castro.