Conflicts of religious intolerance are worsening alarmingly in the Southern Mexican state of Oaxaca.

Although the authorities have been slow to admit the reality, there are forced displacements, human rights violations, property damage and murders, most recently in Cerro Cajón in the municipality of San Isidro El Arenal, San Juan Lalana.

Ten months after the start of the religious conflict in Cerro Cajón, and two weeks after the worsening of attacks against Christians by traditionalist Roman Catholics, the displaced evangelicals went to the regional deputy attorney general's office in the Papaloapan basin to denounce the disappearance of three women.

Furthermore, attackers “burned the [evangelical] church, took the land, stole their cattle and destroyed the homes of 13 Christians”, said pastor Hernández García.

Two pastors reported that when they went to support their Christian brothers and sisters in the municipality, “they striped us naked, did not give us our mobile phones, and threatened to burn us alive”. They stated that they were “not afraid because whether we die or live, we belong to Christ”.

Confraternity of pastors’ complaints

The Confraternity of Pastors of Oaxaca recently denounced the poor attention given by the Secretary of the State Government (SEGO).

According to Yeraldo Hernández García, regional pastor of the Interdenominational Christian Church in the Chinanteca region, “there has been persecution by the authorities of our brothers and sisters in Cerro Cajón since November of 2023”.

“They have targeted them simply because they are Christians. Many of their rights have already been violated, their houses have been taken away, their temple, their livestock, their lands have been burned, and today their homes have been destroyed”, he added.

The pastor confirmed that “there are three women missing”. Their relatives came to Oaxaca, but “they were alone and the people took advantage of it to destroy their homes, and now we don't know what is happening, there is no access and nobody has done anything so far”.

He explained that, after 20 years of evangelical mission in that place of the north of Oaxaca, “the people began to persecute and attack the brethren, although the Christian community contributes to the quotas of the Roman Catholic patron saint of Cerro Cajón”.

Although the Mexican constitution establishes freedom of religion and belief, in this indigenous community it is forbidden to profess any religion other than Roman Catholicism.

“In the indigenous communities, they justify themselves in the uses and customs, but in reality they are abuses and customs”, said Hernández.

Likewise, Lorenzo Antonio Hernández, a displaced evangelical Christian from Cerro Cajón, pointed out that “I worship the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is why they expelled me on 21 November, when they put me in prison and decided to take me away from my ranch, and all the suffering and persecution that I have now because of the Gospel”.

Demonstration at the national palace

Members of the Interdenominational Christian Church (ICIAR) protested in front of the National Palace to demand respect for freedom of worship in the face of acts of violence. “Freedom, Freedom" was the slogan most often heard.

Some protesters could not hold back their tears as they prayed for the welfare of Christians in the region. There were prayers and songs, and banners that read: “No to communities that burn temples”; “Stop persecution against the Christians of Cerro de Cajón”; “No to religious intolerance”; and “We expect a prompt response from our government”.

Oaxaca is not the only Mexican state where evangelicals are attacked by traditionalist Roman Catholics. In the state of Chiapas, the persecution goes on for many years.