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Church in the WorldChurches built on drugs moneyMexico Jon Stibbs - 12 April 2008Violent gangs of drug smugglers are funding churches and chapels, the head of the Mexican bishops' conference has admitted, writes Jon Stibbs in La Paz. Bishop Carlos Aguiar of Texcoco said that in impoverished villages "very generous" violent gangs try to win over local communities living on remote smuggling routes. The gangs provide roads and electricity for the local people and support popular causes, such as building churches or chapels. At a press conference on 5 April, Bishop Aguiar did not clarify whether the Church received money directly from the gangs, the newspaper Reforma reported. However, he sought to establish that this apparent acceptance of drug dealers' money did not mean that the Church condoned drug dealing. The gangs were reportedly responsible for more than 2,500 killings in 2007. |
 In this week’s issueMaking markets moral Iron and velvet Love in a Catholic climate Someone to talk to A good Lent takes planning South American surprise Can the Church support abuse victims on its own terms? Elena Curti Is the Church too slow in recognising that academies are the future for Catholic schools? Christopher Lamb Goodwin the scapegoat Elena Curti The pain of being a coeliac Catholic Sr M, guest contributor The Church's moral obligation to victims of clerical sexual abuse Speeches from this week's conference in Rome This week in Rome bishops and religious superiors met at the first Vatican-backed symposium devoted to forging a global response to the crisis of clerical sexual abuse that has disgraced ... Archbishop voices 'shame and sorrow' after priest's abuse trial Longley to visit parishes 'damaged' by Walsh Today, Tuesday 7 February, Bede Walsh, who served as a Catholic priest in the Archdiocese of Birmingham, has been convicted by a jury, following a 10-day trial at Stoke-on-Trent ...
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