Mexican Church has harsh words for government over El Chapo Guzmán's capture, and official corruption

"The Chaponización of Mexico portends an alarming social decay" - Archdiocese of Mexico City

Guadalajara -
In a terse editorial published yesterday by the influential Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico City in its official publication, Desde La Fe, Church officials said last week's take down of Sinaloa Cartel boss Joaquín Guzmán is no cause for celebration, but only a reason for reflection. The Chaponización of Mexico (translated and edited for clarity by MGR) presented this case:

"Public enemy number one has fallen. The arrest of Joaquín Guzmán Loaera demonstrates how one of the most wanted criminals in this country was protected by many, while the United States - now clamoring for his extradition - praised Mexico and congratulated itself for 'the coordination of law enforcement agencies in both countries.'

"Since his escape from a maximum security federal prison [in 2001], corrupt networks woven by El Chapo opened every door for him, as he fought to dominate drug territories and expand the power of organized crime. El Chapo never disappeared from public view. The State invested and wasted huge economic and human resources to find him, but his whereabouts were well known to communities which regarded him as a Godfather of sorts, as a dispenser of justice. 'Everybody knew where he lived - everybody but the authorities,' noted the archbishop of Durango, Héctor González Martínez, in 2009.

"He fell without resistance and without a shot fired. And those responsible for national security used a very effective public relations tool to eliminate any doubt about the real identity of their prisoner: El Chapo was put on display, to send a clear message to all: 'We did what no one else was able to do.'

"But events soon after warned us of an alarming social decay in this country. Hundreds have marched in the streets demanding freedom for El Chapo. Proclaiming him a hero, they say he did good things for Sinaloa. This apology for a criminal is reprehensible, and raises unavoidable questions: Who are now in charge of the criminal structures created by El Chapo? Who were behind the marches? Did authorities cover up the arrangements? Who have been bought off by El Chapo's money? Our Church in Culiacán correctly called it all immoral.

"Joaquín Guzmán Loaera is the prototypical privileged criminal whose influence arrived even at the portals of prestigious international business magazines [Forbes]. His power is the result of a vacuum in government and the complicity of officials who didn't do their jobs, who preferred instead to accept obscene fortunes and privileges. Far from celebrating El Chapo's capture, we should be worried about the narco culture and the mythification of the narco boss; about the corruption of public authorities who protect the cartels; about the Sinaloan people who have been manipulated and abandoned by those responsible for the common good. We should be disturbed, too, by some legislative initiatives, such as those of PRD (the Democratic Revolution Party) who treat the legalization of marijuana as if it were a panacea for human addictions and violence. In sum, we should worry about the Chaponización of Mexico."

Feb. 24, 2014 - Former Jalisco official: Catholic cardinal murdered in Guadalajara may have been yet another El Chapo victim
July 22, 2011 - Mexican Cardinal urged U.S. to "stop the leftist candidates"

Norberto Rivera Cardinal Carrera is the archbishop of Mexico City and the highest ranking Catholic official in the nation

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