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Mexican Drug War Tactic Angers Santa Muerte Followers

By Howard M. Friedman

As part of its war on the drug cartels, Mexican law enforcement is apparently destroying shrines to the "Santa Muerte"-- the Death Saint, often portrayed as a robe-covered skeleton resembling the Grim Reaper. San Jose (CA) Mercury News reported yesterday that the Death Saint is often popular with drug traffickers. However the new government campaign against the worship of Santa Muerte has angered many other believers who often use elements of Catholic ritual to worship the Saint. Last month, army troops and workers used back hoes to destroy more 30 Santa Muerte shrines in Nuevo Laredo, across the border from Laredo, Texas. The sect's archbishop, David Romo, called the destruction religious persecution. Some 200 protesters, agreeing with his position, marched in Mexico City yesterday.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on April 06, 2009 (boomark / email).