Arr! Catholic bishops in Mexico be havin' a parley wit' the scurvy drug cartel captains fer a truce, mateys!
2024-02-15
Arr, ye scurvy dogs! 'Tis a tale as curious as a mermaid's song! The Mexican government, lackin' the gallant spirit to face their own drug cartels, now seeks aid from the holy brethren! 'Tis the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church who be hostin' peace parleys, bringin' harmony to this treacherous sea.
Four Roman Catholic bishops in Mexico have met with drug cartel bosses in an attempt to negotiate a peace agreement, according to one of the bishops, Bishop of Chilpancingo-Chilapa, José de Jesús González Hernández. This revelation highlights the government's policy of not confronting the cartels, leaving citizens to make their own peace with the gangs. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador confirmed that such talks have taken place before in other states. He stated that priests and leaders from various churches have participated in pacifying the country and that he supports their efforts. However, he emphasized that he would not approve of any agreement that grants impunity or allows stealing. Many average Mexicans have resorted to paying protection payments to drug cartels out of fear. The talks failed because the cartels did not want to stop fighting over territory in Guerrero, resulting in transportation shutdowns and numerous killings. The cartels and gangs in Mexico not only engage in drug trafficking but also extort money from various businesses. López Obrador's policy of "hugs, not bullets" has allowed the cartels to control several mid-sized cities, leading to higher prices due to cartel taxes. Retired Bishop Salvador Rangel, who had previously spoken about meeting with gang leaders for peace, confirmed the talks but stated that the gangs were unwilling to concede anything. Despite the failure, Rangel defended the talks as valid attempts to achieve peace and harmony. The approach was suggested to have at least implicit approval from Pope Francis, who has a belief in dialogue and the need for peace. The Vatican has not commented on the bishop's remarks.