by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – A new law intended to protect Indigenous Mexican communities may force Christians in Mexico to participate in traditional pagan practices on pain of legal repercussions, Christian Today (CT) reports.

The Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization has warned legislation passed in September may see Mexican Christians having to participate in such rituals as animal sacrifice if they want to avoid punishment by the government.

Considered obligatory, such rituals are followed by Indigenous groups who practice a combination of Catholic tradition with pre-Hispanic beliefs. Even before the new law was passed to protect these practices, those who did not participate could face fines, imprisonment, or expulsion from their communities.

“In many indigenous communities, religious customs are inseparable from community life,” Liz Cortés, a partner of Open Doors working in Mexico, told Christian Today.

“Christians who choose not to participate in these rituals are often seen as outsiders, disrupting the social order. This new reform essentially legitimizes this persecution by empowering local authorities to enforce these traditions as law, leaving Christians vulnerable to harassment and violence.”

“Christians are often cut off from essential services such as water and electricity,” Cortés said. “Their children are denied education, and they are barred from accessing health services. We respect the traditions of these communities, but we cannot stand by while Christians are forced to renounce their faith or face imprisonment, fines, and social exclusion. It is crucial that the Mexican government safeguards religious freedom alongside the autonomy of indigenous peoples.”

In a separate statement to Christian Today, Jorge Jiménez, a researcher for Open Doors in Mexico, explained: “By recognizing indigenous customs as public law, the government has essentially created a ‘fourth level’ of governance, making it difficult for Christian minorities to defend their rights under national law. Indigenous courts, which may be biased against Christians, could handle these cases, complicating legal recourse.”

Secular Mexico ranks 37 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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