A priest has been found shot dead in Mexico, officials have said, marking the latest in a
series of violent incidents against Roman Catholic clerics in an area of southern Guerrero
state dominated by drug cartels.
series of violent incidents against Roman Catholic clerics in an area of southern Guerrero
state dominated by drug cartels.
Reverend Gregorio Lopez Gorostieta is the third Catholic priest killed in the region this
year, and the first to die since the federal government launched a thorough security
operation in the area following the disappearance of 43 college students three months
ago.
year, and the first to die since the federal government launched a thorough security
operation in the area following the disappearance of 43 college students three months
ago.
The motive for Lopez Gorostieta’s killing remains unclear.
Bishop Maximino Martinez from Gorostieta’s church said a group had been seen lurking
around the seminary where the priest taught in the outskirts of Ciudad Altamirano,
Guerrero, on Sunday and Monday.
Bishop Maximino Martinez from Gorostieta’s church said a group had been seen lurking
around the seminary where the priest taught in the outskirts of Ciudad Altamirano,
Guerrero, on Sunday and Monday.
Gorostieta was apparently kidnapped by gang members early on Monday and his truck
was found abandoned two days later.
was found abandoned two days later.
“Enough already of so much pain, of so many murders. Enough already of so much
crime. Enough extortions,” Bishop Martinez said, according to the Associated Press news
agency.
crime. Enough extortions,” Bishop Martinez said, according to the Associated Press news
agency.
Martinez was apparently referring to the “protection payments” that the local drug gang,
the Knights Templar, demand from business owners in Ciudad Altamirano.
the Knights Templar, demand from business owners in Ciudad Altamirano.
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