From the Editorial Team and Correspondents
La Jornada Newspaper
Monday, November 25, 2024, p. 3
In the masses this Sunday, the Catholic Church intensified its activism against judicial reform and, openly, bishops and priests expressed their rejection of the process that is already underway to elect judges, magistrates and ministers.
As part of another day for peace and justice in the country, in the Basilica of Guadalupe, where a group of magistrates attended, the petition was included for the members of the Judiciary and their families, so that they put God at the center of their concerns
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In Morelia, Michoacán, the priest in charge of starting the religious act also asked for the members of the Federal Judicial Branch and for the consequences that come with the judicial reform that violates the rights and the judicial career, so that the spirit works in the peace of our nation
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There, Archbishop Carlos Garfias Merlos expressed: Today we pray for peace, so that the magistrates, judges and all collaborators of the Judiciary have this decision to build peace
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He also urged the Federal Judicial Branch to speak truthfully to prevent lies from prevailing based on confusion
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A parishioner who read a prayer stated that in light of the judicial reform let us not silence our rights, we pray to you, Lord
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The day took place coinciding with the last day for the registration of candidates to occupy any of the positions of ministers, judges and magistrates, which will be elected in June 2025.
Greetings to the United States ambassador
The religious ceremony at the Basilica of Guadalupe in the country’s capital was also attended by the United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, who was accompanied by his family.
The auxiliary bishop of the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico, Francisco Javier Acero Pérez, officiated the mass and welcomed the magistrates. Also to the diplomat, but in English.
There, another request was for the Judicial Power and the jurisdictional function that it performs, so that justice always prevails in its resolutions
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In the end, auxiliary bishop Acero Pérez entrusted the country to the Virgin of Guadalupe, so that justice and peace reign
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Among other cities of the Republic where masses for peace and justice were celebrated were Oaxaca de Juárez, Oaxaca; La Paz, Baja California Sur; Culiacán, Sinaloa; Cancun, Quintana Roo; Morelia, Michoacán; Durango; San Luis Potosi; Mérida, Yucatán, and Xalapa, Veracruz.
In Campeche, Bishop José Francisco González warned that without security the entire country is at risk.
He highlighted that violence in the state continues to increase, despite which, due to distrust of the authorities, victims prefer not to report it. This leads to an increase in social frustration and impunity.
The activities carried out by the Catholic Church occur in the context of the implementation of judicial reform, and also of the more than 859 resignations presented by judges and magistrates, some with more than 25 years of service, who refused to participate in the election process.
They affirmed that their resignations reflect the courage to continue defending judicial independence and that they will not submit to any political power in power.
