At the end of January, the Episcopalian Pastoral Commission for Human Mobility, part of the Conference of the Mexican Episcopals (CEM), held a three-day meeting in Tapachula with the participation of nine bishops working in the southern states of Chiapas, Tabasco, Yucatán, Oaxaca, Campeche, and Veracruz. At the end of the meeting, in the document entitled “No to Indifference before the Drama of Migration,” the bishops pronounced themselves, declaring that “the Church is not indifferent to this drama. The constant calls from the Pope and the bishops in light of this reality are a voice for the conscience of Christians and those who should offer efficient responses to society before this situation. This is a voice that is lamentably not heard, above all by those who with their criminal practices make each day that passes more painful and more insecure for so many of our Central America brothers.”
Furthermore, they emphasized that “to the authorities we want to remind them to address the question of migration with more gravity in all aspects: above all, working decisively to promote dignified sources of work, the only way forward to eradicate poverty, which is a fundamental factor in this human drama. It is urgent moreover to find and guarantee physical and legal security for those who transit through our territory. Hospitality and the human values of Mexicans cannot be allowed to continue deteriorating due to external political interests or pressures. The policy in this country should be defined by the values and principles of solidarity and respect for human life and dignity, as enshrined in our Constitution.”
For more information (in Spanish):
Pronunciamiento del CEM No a la indiferencia ante el drama de la migración (30 de enero de 2015)
Piden obispos a México y EU abrir las fronteras (Milenio, 30 de enero de 2015)
Obispos repudian plan Frontera Sur (Proceso, 30 de enero de 2015)
Piden obispos mayor atención y seriedad al tema de migración (Chiapas Paralelo, 31 de enero de 2015)
Infructuoso, el Plan Frontera Sur: obispos (La Jornada, 31 de enero de 2015)
For more information from SIPAZ (in English):
Mexico/Chiapas: Caravan of Central American Mothers, “Bridges of Hope,” in San Cristóbal (16 December 2014)
National/Chiapas: Massive raids against migrants and attack on human-rights defenders (3 May 2014)
National: Migrant pilgrimage arrives in Mexico City (2 May 2014)
Mexico: Caravan of Central American mothers seeking out their children(2 November 2012)
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