Catholic Church Speaks Out Against Reform in Mexico

Mexico’s Catholic Church has launched new offensives against the administration of President Enrique Peña Nieto. The target is his flagship project – a series of reforms his party and the country’s main opposition groups support. The criticism from the Church comes as a surprise given that its leaders – despite their turbulent history in the country – had maintained a cordial relationship with the last few administrations. The first sign of trouble came in late April when the Episcopal Conference unexpectedly issued a sharp official message that shattered any idealization of life in Mexico and, one by one, questioned the proposed reforms, which call for changes in education, taxation, politics and the energy and telecommunications industries. “We ask ourselves: ‘how will they be beneficial,’ especially for those who have always been unfortunate? Or, are they going to be a new opportunity for those who are used to pillaging the resources of this country?” read the message.