.- The secretary general of the Mexican Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Jose Leopoldo Gonzalez, said Thursday that the Church in Mexico has accepted the apology of police officials for conducting a raid during Mass at the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in the Diocese of Apatzingan.
On August 1, police raided the parish in order to capture several drug lords. After protests by the Mexican bishops, police officials apologized to Bishop Miguel Patino of Apatzingan.
The statement signed by Bishop Gonzalez said the raid on the Church showed “a lack of respect for the Catholic faith and its sacraments.” However, the bishops accepted the apology and reiterated their commitment to help in the fight against organized crime.
“The Church and her bishops will never obstruct justice as some, either out of ignorance or malice, have suggested,” the statement indicated.
“We reiterate that no Catholic church is or ever will be a place where any kind of criminality will be shielded under any pretext,” the bishops said.
