Mexico: They warn about alleged Franciscan friars who ignore the authority of the Pope

The Diocese of Tlaxcala, in central-eastern Mexico, warned about the presence of two young people who promote “religious practices” and “confuse the community,” wearing habits similar to those of the Franciscan friars, although “they are not an organization.” Catholic.”

Through a statement issued this June 6, the diocese indicated that these young people present themselves under the name of “Franciscan Friars of Saint Joseph” and have established a “place that they have called ‘Convent’, from where they promote ‘religious practices’” in the city of Santa Ana Chiautempan, in the south-central state of Tlaxcala.

The diocese noted in its statement that these young people “are unaware of the authority of Pope Francis and call themselves ‘traditionalists’.” Likewise, he indicated that they “do not belong to any Catholic Order or Congregation, nor have they asked the Bishop for authorization to be in the Diocese, as ordered by Canon Law.”

“They confuse the community with clothing similar to that worn by the Franciscan Friars, claiming that they are from the ‘Convent,’” the diocese added.

“This ambiguity,” the statement continues, “has caused people to identify them with the Franciscan Convent, when, in reality, they have no connection with it, nor with any of the Parishes.”

In Santa Ana Chiautempan is the Franciscan convent dedicated to Our Lady of the Angels, erected between 1564 and 1585. Currently, it continues to house this religious order.

Furthermore, the Diocese of Tlaxcala pointed out that the so-called “Franciscan Friars of San José” appear in “houses and businesses, saying that they are coming from the Convent and requesting support; to which several people help them because they assume that they are from the Franciscan Convent of Santa Ana, an action that represents a deception of their good faith.”

The statement also warns that young people carry out “processions with images and organize celebrations of ‘supposed masses’ in the streets, increasing confusion in the Catholic community.”

The diocese regretted that while the Catholic faithful have received the warnings from the Catholic Church with good spirit, “the reaction of said young people has been very aggressive and offensive.”

“By this means, we ratify that, indeed, this is a non-Catholic group without recognition or authorization from the Bishopric of Tlaxcala. Thus, the ‘supposed sacraments’ that they administered have no validity whatsoever nor do the documents they issued,” he pointed out.

Finally, the Mexican diocese called on the faithful “not to be surprised, nor to favor possible fraud that could be caused by these young people who have begun to make a presence in other communities.”