In November 2023, community leaders of San Isidro Arenal, a town located within Oaxaca State, mandated that Roman Catholicism would be the only religion permitted in their community. Following this decision, 13 evangelical families began to experience threats and violence from those opposing them. A month later, three of the families were forcibly expelled and took refuge in the Playa Vicente Municipality of Veracruz State.
On 6 August, the situation escalated when the families remaining in the community had their lands and livestock confiscated. The victims’ homes and fields were destroyed, and their church building was set on fire. A group of four evangelical Christian leaders arrived at the community ten days later to provide needed assistance to those who were affected by the vandalism. However, upon their arrival, the visiting leaders were attacked by a mob, stripped, beaten and detained for over six hours.
Even anyone in the community who merely expresses support for the affected families is at risk of danger. On 18 August, Lucia Antonia, who is not a member of the church, was ordered to leave the community for demonstrating support for the victims.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Oaxaca has distanced the Roman Catholic Church from the situation, denouncing “competition for parishioners” and stating that all people must respect each other. On 20 August, the secretary of the state government claimed that the issue had been addressed, denying the possibility that further violence and forced displacement could take place.
The next day, however, while most of the threatened community members were in meetings with state officials, their homes were looted and destroyed. Additionally, three women who remained in the community while the others attended the meeting were forcibly taken away, only to be left abandoned on a roadside a few hours away from their homes.
In tribal areas of Mexico, such as those located within Oaxaca State, aspects of Roman Catholicism have frequently been combined with traditional indigenous religions, resulting in a syncretistic religious system comprised of conflicting rituals and practices. Those who don’t comply with the imposed tribal beliefs frequently face rejection from members of their communities.
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