Religious freedom in Mexico is at the heart of a message issued by the Mexican Catholic Bishops’ Conference marking the centenary of the «Calles Law», a legislation that imposed severe restrictions on Church life and placed priestly ministry under direct state control. Titled “The church bells fell silent; their blood spoke” and subtitled “In memory of our martyrs, religious freedom and peace-building”, the document recalls that the law entered into force on 31 July 1926. Faced with the impossibility of freely exercising their ministry, the bishops suspended public worship across the nation starting 1 August 1926, opening one of the most painful chapters in Mexican history.
Legacy of the martyrs and current regulatory restrictions
The text pays tribute to the witness of the martyrs who died forgiving their executioners, emphasizing that they learned «at a very high price» that religious freedom is a fundamental human right whose denial always ends up costing blood. Although acknowledging legislative progress made over the decades, the bishops denounce that Mexico still lacks full religious freedom due to persistent restrictions inconsistent with a mature democracy:
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Public worship limits: Restrictions persist regarding ordinary religious practice outside places of worship.
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Media access: Religious associations remain unable to obtain radio and television broadcasting licences.
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Education: Non-consensual educational models are imposed, restricting parents’ freedom to choose their children’s religious education.
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Political climate: The political class has failed to embrace a constitutional culture of religious freedom, maintaining an attitude of mistrust that prevents believers from living out their faith in the public sphere.
Religious freedom in Mexico threatened by organized crime
The bishops warn that the situation is even more critical as the State allows organized crime to function as a parallel government, controlling territories where human rights are systematically violated through kidnappings, extortions, murders, and the corruption of young people. This widespread climate of violence severely impairs the freedom of worship in many communities:
“The blood of priests murdered whilst carrying out their ministry — including our Jesuit brothers from Cerocahui, Father Marcelo Pérez in San Cristóbal de las Casas, and others — shows that the list of martyrs did not end in 1929.”
This assessment aligns with findings from ACN’s 2025 Religious Freedom in the World Report, which documents an increase in religious discrimination caused by organized crime. Key data from the report includes:
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2023–2024 Period: Three priests were murdered, and five cases of aggravated assault were recorded.
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2018–2024 Term: During President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term (December 2018 to September 2024), ten priests were murdered and ten others suffered direct violence.
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Crimes against the Church: Nearly 900 extortion incidents—including kidnappings, robberies, and intimidation—were documented against members of the Catholic Church, alongside an average of 26 weekly attacks and desecrations against places of worship.
“In the absence of state action, in areas dominated by organised crime, religious leaders are speaking out against violence and taking on the role of protectors of their communities. This makes them targets, with the aim of instilling fear and silencing the inhabitants of these towns, which in turn allows criminal groups to continue trafficking in arms and drugs.”
ACN’s endorsement and global petition
Promoting and defending religious freedom is a core mission of ACN, and the foundation fully stands by the Mexican bishops in their demand for state protection. ACN currently maintains an active global petition titled “Protect the Right to Believe: A Global Call for Religious Freedom”, addressed to world leaders to strengthen the safeguard of this fundamental human right.
