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The Catholic Church has once again placed itself on the side of the opposition. It is clear that there is a crisis between the Church and the State. Since 2022, the Catholic hierarchy has not stopped criticizing and disqualifying the initiatives of the government of Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Since the murder of the Jesuits in Tarahumara, the Catholic bishops have gone from sacred rebellion to radical disagreement against the 4T.
Now on September 5, in a statement, the prelates disqualified the proposal for legal reform proposed by the Executive. They expressed their concern about the possible approval of the constitutional reform on the Judicial Branch in Mexico. They warned that The proposed reform does not respond to a comprehensive review of the judicial system, nor does it guarantee a better and more qualified administration of justice; furthermore, it affects the autonomy of the Judicial Branch and calls into question the division of powers established by our Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.
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The bishops join the discontent of social and international sectors, as stated in their statement and warn: The election of judges and magistrates, in addition to politicizing and weakening the administration of justice in Mexico, does not offer any guarantee to overcome the corruption and impunity that citizens urgently need.
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The Church’s positions in its deepest tissues are diverse. In two years, the bishops have expanded their claims against the 4T. Although they criticize AMLO for being impulsive and quarrelsome, many bishops seem to be motivated by revenge. The tone has gone from complaining to quarrelsome with increasingly harsh adjectives. Since the Cristero War in the 1920s, the level of belligerence and defiance of the bishops has not been seen so much. Not all prelates are, it must be recognized, but some are increasingly radical. Those who have ties to pro-life, anti-rights organizations with open links to the religious far right stand out.
The most radical attitudes are highlighted in the media. Such is the case of the Cardinal of Guadalajara, Francisco Robles Ortega, who called voting in favor of the reform of the Judicial Branch treason. For the Cardinal, the State is at risk if this reform initiative is approved. I consider it a true betrayal if the senators vote in favor of the reform. Betrayers of Mexico, if it were so, let this list go down in history: the names and surnames of these people who betrayed Mexico in such a serious need as justice and in the elimination of the powers that should govern the Republic and democracy.
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Another strident voice is that of the priest Mario Angel Flores, former rector of the Pontifical University of Mexico and director of the Social Observatory of the Mexican Episcopal Conference (CEM), who rudely expressed his concern about the reform. We cannot ignore him, since he is one of the ideologues with influence in the episcopate. He pointed out that What they are going to do is deconstruct the Judicial Branch and with that, pluralism, the balance of powers and Mexican democracy will end.
. He warned that the reform It is a plan absolutely aimed at controlling a dictatorial system.
. If this is achieved, we will be taking a step towards authoritarianism and dictatorship.
he added.
In his editorial entitled Why the rush?
, From Faith He acknowledged that judicial reform is necessary and a priority. However, the weekly newspaper of the metropolitan archdiocese called for acting with wisdom and prudence, as King Solomon did. Wisdom to listen in good time to all the sectors involved and prudence to carry out a comprehensive review of the judicial system. If they act with wisdom and prudence, the Mexican people will be able to recognize it in spades.
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As I have commented in this space, the bishops, through forceful messages, have questioned the situation of violence prevailing in the country, the immigration policy and the security strategy of the 4T; they have defended the INE of Córdova; the SCJN; they have demonstrated against the overrepresentation
; They have blamed the President for political polarization and are demanding the rule of law that threatens the disappearance of autonomous bodies.
The bishops defend the minorities, where the opposition is geolocated, but they are not very sensitive to the fact that those 35 million votes for Morena were mostly Catholic. The bishops have little empathy with the preferences of their parishioners.
For many colleagues, the government has a share of responsibility. It has been excessively tolerant and permissive. As before, it would be enough to apply the Constitution and the laws to use it as the sword of Damocles in order to put quarrelsome prelates in order. I am not convinced by the punitive actions of the State in the face of religious freedom. Open and frank debates are preferable. Yes, I must say, I am concerned that the secularism that Mexico has built is being undermined. As Mahatma Gandhi preached: I understand religion not as a set of political and power interests, but as what is at the origin of all religions, putting us face to face with the Creator.
. The Mexican bishops are taking the easy way out, politicking in the name of God, when their Church is falling apart.
