Mexican church officials concerned by rise in crime, kidnappings

Published: 2004-06-16

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- Mexican church officials have joined in the general uproar against rampant crime in Mexico and are encouraging people to participate in an upcoming march against kidnapping. "The population is feeling desperate and impotent against so many kidnappings and so much violence," Cardinal Norberto Rivera Carrera of Mexico City told reporters June 13. "They don't feel that the authorities are protecting them." An ongoing crime wave, which includes a series of kidnappings, has dominated headlines in local papers in recent weeks; citizens' groups are pledging to gather hundreds of thousands in Mexico City June 27 to protest the government's inability to fight kidnapping. Cardinal Rivera said he supported the march even though he would not participate personally. "I think it's good that people protest and that each of us do what we can. Of course, the biggest responsibility lies on the authorities," Cardinal Rivera said.

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