Mexican diocese: Sacraments must be performed in places of worship

Published: 2008-05-23

MEXICO CITY (CNS) -- The Diocese of Cuernavaca announced it will no longer recognize sacraments, including marriages and baptisms, performed outside authorized places of worship. Bishop Florencio Olvera Ochoa of Cuernavaca described many of the ceremonies that are often held in private homes, luxury hotels and former haciendas as lacking a sense of community, inclusion and openness. "It creates an elitism, generally in favor of the rich," he said in mid-May. Cuernavaca, a mountainous colonial city located about 55 miles south of Mexico City, is a bustling weekend retreat for wealthy Mexico City residents and a popular spot for the high-profile weddings of the country's best-known entertainers, politicians and business people. The bishop added that the new rules would crack down on phony priests offering their services in the diocese -- usually at destination weddings and, in one prominent case, the marriage of a famed soap opera actress and prominent soccer star.

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