Category Archives: Religion
Mexican church seizes on St. Jude to counter Santa Muerte cult
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO — A few days after a group of armed men kidnapped her 27-year-old son, María set up a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus at her home in Guadalajara, western Mexico. “I keep photos, candles and holy water at the … Continue reading
Papal tickets for sale
The limited distribution of free tickets to see Pope Francis in Mexico spurred a temporary black market as scalpers cashed in on his trip by flogging tickets online. A single ticket to a papal Mass sold for 3,000 pesos ($150), … Continue reading
The preachers who claim they can make you wealthy
“I came here to find healing for my arthritis,” said Valeria, sitting on the pew of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God, known as Pare de sufrir, or stop suffering. “I was raised Catholic, but I came to … Continue reading
Muslims in Mexico: the link to a hidden Islamic heritage
In 2014, Islam and Mexico were most frequently mentioned together in the context of terrorism. Republicans such as Rick Perry and Duncan Hunter caused controversy by saying that Muslim extremists were entering the U.S. through its southern border. The allegations … Continue reading
The legacy of Samuel Joaquín Flores, Mexico’s most controversial church leader
Close to 600,000 people flooded into Mexico’s second-largest-city, Guadalajara, this month to pay respects to Samuel Joaquín Flores, the 77-year-old head of the evangelical Luz del Mundo (Light of the World Church), who died on 8 December. Known to his flock … Continue reading
Renegade priest still speaking “language of the poor”
The first time I encountered José Álvarez Franco, better known as Padre Patillas, or “Father Sideburns”, was during a baptismal service in his church in Tateposco, when he referred to me as a “gringo” during the mass, prompting laughter throughout … Continue reading
The rise and rise of Mexican Mormonism
Until two years ago, when Mormon missionaries knocked on the door of his family home, José Guadalupe Pérez had never heard of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He had no idea what a Mormon was, nor what they believed or practiced. … Continue reading
The Mexican Labyrinth 