‘If human rights are to matter at all [in Mexico], they must apply to even the smallest child in the most remote village.’ These were the words of a Zapotec pastor and human rights defender in Oaxaca.
Mexico guarantees freedom of religion or belief in its constitution. However, in practice the misapplication of the Law of Uses and Customs (which is meant to protect traditional ways of governing) can lead to the harassment, exclusion and persecution of minority religious communities. This week we’ll be focusing our prayers for these beautiful, brave individuals and their communities.
Sunday 26 May
Pray for indigenous religious minority groups who often face discrimination, including the loss of local rights, access to education and exclusion because of their religion or belief. Pray that they might be able to play a full part in community life.
Monday 27 May
Pray for religious minority leaders in indigenous villages. They carry the responsibility of leading groups facing discrimination, whilst often being targeted themselves. We think especially of Pastor Rogelio in Hidalgo State, whose house was recently destroyed by members of his village in attempt to pressure him to leave the community.
Tuesday 28 May
Pray for families in Mexico who have been denied access to water, to electricity, and to government support programmes because of their faith. Pray a special blessing over the women who have been disproportionately affected, like Consepción Gómez Santiz in El Encanto, Chiapas State.
Wednesday 29 May
Pray for all those forced to leave their homes and live as internally displaced people because of their faith. Pray that they will know Christ’s comfort with them in exile – but also that they will one day be able to move back to their villages which, in many cases, have been their families’ homes for generations.
Thursday 30 May
Pray today for the families and churches affected by the violence of warring organised criminal groups and who don’t have freedom to hold regular services.
Friday 31 May
Pray for the work of CSW in Mexico, particularly our in-country team, Impulso18. Give thanks for the success of our training programmes, which equipped journalists, human rights defenders, and government officials to better understand and uphold the right to freedom of religion or belief.
Saturday 1 June
‘Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.’ (Psalm 103:2-3 NLT) Pray that the Lord would do good things for Maria Concepción from Hidalgo State. She continues to recover from being violently attacked at the end of 2022, and has asked specifically for prayer for her eyesight which is deteriorating.
Find out more at csw.org.uk/Mexico