New Believer Jailed in Mexico for Receiving Christ

And my apologies for yet another comment, but Mexico has had its fair share of anti-Catholic persecution from the government; see the Cristero War of 1926-1929 for a REAL story of hatred against Mexican Christians. I believe it wasn't until 1990 that priests and nuns were allowed by law to go out in public in their clericals/habits, and unless I'm mistaken, to this day, the clergy can't vote.

Roman Catholicism + native custom does not equal "traditionalist Catholicism", though. Traditionalist Catholicism is a specific type of conservative Catholic Christianity, often characterized by attending the Tridentine Latin Mass, reading pre-Vatican II Bibles, catechisms or devotional materials, and adhering to pre-Vatican II standards of doctrine.

The article should have referred to exactly whatever this village in question's religion is, whether it's Santeria, Vodun, or whatever.

In the paragraph before the use of the phrase "traditionalist Catholic" they explain that it is a mix of "Roman Catholicism and native custom."

Yes, there's no end to the total absurdity of this statement: "They said, ‘What do you mean that you’ve accepted Christ – you mean you don’t believe in our gods [Catholic saints]?’"

For all Catholic Christians say or sing the Nicene Creed on Sundays and holy days in Mass: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord, Jesus [Bow head] Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God.... And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life: Who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who together with the Father and the Son is adored [Bow head] and glorified."

The way that this article characterizes "traditionalist Catholics" as though the behavior by the reported villagers is typical of traditional Catholics is rather slanderous, or at least is very sloppy reporting. Next thing you know, we'll be reading of "traditionalist Catholic" blood libels, sacrificing babies to Satan in subterranean altars or something.

The hymn in the Catholic Mass which is called the "Gloria" sums up who is the one true God here.

"Glory be to God on high. And on earth peace to men of good will. We praise Thee. We bless Thee We adore Thee. We glorify Thee. We give Thee thanks for Thy great glory. Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. Lord Jesus Christ [Bow head], Only-begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou Who takest away the sins of the world have mercy on us. Thou who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou Who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For Thou alone art holy. Thou alone, O Jesus Christ [Bow head], art most high. With the Holy Ghost, + in the glory of God the Father. Amen."

Traditional Catholics revere Our Lord Jesus so much that in church, we give a slight bow of the head every time His holy Name is mentioned. We even have a feast day for the Most Holy Name of Jesus, shortly after Christmas to celebrate His being named.

Yes, the group in this article has nothing to do with real traditional Catholics at all. Most real "traditional Catholics" attend the traditional Latin Mass, commonly offered before the Second Vatican Council. I don't know how the Mass could get any more Christocentric than it already is. This is the text of the traditional Latin (Tridentine) Mass. http://fisheaters.com/TLMinstructions.html Any good Catholic knows that there is only one God, the Trinity, incarnate on this earth in the person of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

This article seriously needs to be revised. I'm a "traditional Catholic", but I'm firstly a Christian, and I don't appreciate my faith group being lumped with a minority of crazy Mexican villagers, who clearly are not Catholic, who pick on evangelical Protestants.

Furthermore, if it's really a Catholic village, then the gospel may be freely proclaimed there. If one attends Mass for three years, one will have heard about 90% of Scripture proclaimed from the pulpit.

Just for the record, I have to give the benefit of the doubt to the "Catholics" in the story. It is entirely possible that the facts are utterly misrepresented, conflated, or even fabricated in this article. I don't know, I wasn't there. I do know two things: 1) the journalist is acting out of dishonest and anti-Catholic motives, and 2) no Catholic, no matter how ignorant of their faith, would *ever* refer to the saints as "our Gods." No. This whole piece smells like propaganda.

This journalist hasn't got his facts straight, or his head on straight for that matter. The people in this story aren't "traditionalist Catholics" any more than Jimmy Swagart is. In fact, it's so easy to find this out that I seriously doubt the honesty of the writer. He's just taking a cheap shot at (the real) traditionalist Catholics, hoping there are enough folks gullible enough to buy into the *eeeevil Catholic* stereotype. And since the liberal media has convinced America that Mel Gibson's a BAD MAN, well, why not jump on the bandwagon, right?

Want to find the Truth? the fullness of the faith? Check out www.fisheaters.com and get a life (of grace). If you really think you're a Christian, but reject Christ's teaching, you just might (Heaven help you!) hear Him say to you "I never knew you. Depart from me!" (Matt 7:23)

taebogirllinda, the Catholics in the story are saying they DO, and that is why they are persecuting this Mendez fellow. I am glad you say you don't. But I think praying to Jesus is far more effective than praying to any saint, even if they *could* hear us.

I don't think its right to attack us Catholics. We don't worship saints, they are simply people we ask to pray for us just like anyone would ask a fellow christian here on earth. People need to get their facts straight.We only worship Christ.