Mexico City, Mexico, Sep 18, 2008 / 10:47 am (CNA).- The bishops of Mexico have strongly condemned a terrorist attack that took place in the city of Morelia this week and left seven people dead and over one hundred wounded.

In a statement the bishops expressed their solidarity and closeness to the victims and their family members and said, “The shedding of blood will never be the way for those who terrorize the country to get others to heed their complaints or differences, much less when they are attacking civilians, Mexican families and innocent people.”

After calling for a greater effort to confront organized crime, the bishops called “on the leaders of government, legislators and politicians of all parties to firmly and decisively watch over the application of the National Security Accord and to seek out initiatives that prevent these horrendous crimes with greater determination.”

“Violence only leads to more violence,” they said.  “We fervently call for civility and reason, for peace and the guarantees of freedom and justice in our country to be respected.”

The bishops prayed to “Holy Mary of Guadalupe, Mother of all Mexicans, to console the relatives of those who have died and to strengthen the family members of the wounded, and to give us all the conviction that we are called by God to live together in peace and harmony.”

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