After a car ran over 16 people outside the Guadalajara Cathedral, in the Mexican state of Jalisco, during a pro-life celebration, Jaime Cedillo Bolívar, organizer of the event, asked the authorities for “transparency and speed” in the investigation of what happened.
According to local media reports, a man allegedly stole a family vehicle in which a minor was still in and tried to flee. During its journey, the car rammed into the crowd participating in the march “In favor of women and life”, outside the Asunción de María Santísima Cathedral.
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Attendees gathered to demand public policies that protect pregnant women and babies in the womb, especially after the recent modification of the Penal Code of the state of Jalisco, which decriminalizes abortion up to 12 weeks of gestation.
The Catholic Church prays for the injured and asks to “clarify” what happened
The Catholic Church in Mexico expressed its solidarity and offered prayers for the injured people and their families. In a statement issued on October 27, the Conference of the Mexican Episcopate asked God “for his speedy recovery, especially for those who are in serious condition, and for spiritual consolation for all those affected.”
In addition, they urged the authorities to strengthen public security measures “to prevent crimes such as vehicle theft”, as well as work on the “prevention of the consumption of harmful substances” and ensure the protection of public spaces “where demonstrations take place.” peaceful and religious activities.”
The Archbishopric of Guadalajara also issued a statement in which it deeply regretted the incident and asked the authorities to “clarify all the circumstances of what happened.” They demanded that the responsible persons “respond to the reparation of the events that mainly involve the injured people, as well as the material damage.”
An “unnecessary and avoidable risk”
In statements to the media On October 28, Cedillo Bolívar, Lobbying Coordinator of the National Family Front, called on the authorities to resolve the case since “citizens deserve clarity, respect and certainty” about what happened on Saturday night.
Cedillo Bolívar regretted “that in an event of such magnitude a sufficient operation has not been implemented to guarantee the safety” of the attendees, accusing the authorities of “lack of security, the lack of agreement exposed citizens to an unnecessary risk and avoidable”.
Likewise, he asked that “all lines of action of the motive for this incident be investigated,” and urged the authorities to carry out a thorough investigation “and that we not come out with the fact that it was simply a robbery, of a van, a chase and sadly “We were on the path of escape, because it was not like that.”
In addition, he reported that of the 16 injured people, four were seriously injured, although none of them were life-threatening.
May these acts not “go unpunished”
Although the current governor of Jalisco, Enrique Alfaro, of Movimiento Ciudadano, has not yet issued a statement, the elected governor of the same party, Pablo Lemus, who will take office in December, through his count of On October 27, he expressed his solidarity with the affected people.
The civil organization Pasos por la Vida also shared a message on X on October 26, repudiating the incident and blaming the authorities for the “recklessness and lack of security” of the authorities. “It is ironic that in this country, where we seek to respect life, one exposes one’s own while demonstrating,” he lamented.
The Family Network platform joined the claims, asking the authorities that “acts of this nature go unpunished” and demanding an exhaustive investigation to “clarify the facts and do justice.”
For his part, the Catholic filmmaker and former presidential candidate Eduardo Verástegui expressed his concern about the attack. on their social networks on October 27, highlighting that the “defense of life is not a simple slogan, it is a battle where you risk your own life to defend and save those of the most innocent.” He concluded by stating that “the battle may be ideological, but the war is and will always be spiritual.”
Diego López Colin
I am a graduate of Journalism at the Carlos Septién García School with experience in religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I have been writing for digital media and, since 2018, I have reported the most important news about Catholic events in Mexico for the EWTN news channel. ACI Prensa correspondent in Mexico since 2023.