Christians denied water supply for not contributing to a Catholic fiesta in Mexico
Authorities have cut off the water supply of some Christian families in San Jose, Chiapas in Mexico because they would not give financial contribution to a Catholic fiesta.
Five families of evangelical Christians, including that of Maranatha Church Pastor Octavio Gomez, have been denied access to potable water because they refused to pay 200 pesos as contribution for the celebration that will be held in honor of a Catholic saint.
Event organizers and local authorities reportedly visited houses in the neighborhood early this month to collect the fees. Those who refused to pay were threatened that their water supply will be cut off. As a result, around 80 families consented, not only because they were afraid to lose water but also because it cost a whopping 4,000 pesos to have one's water supply reconnected.
Refusing to be pressured, Gomez and four other Christian families stood their ground and did not give the payment. The authorities made good on their threat and promptly cut off their water supply.
Although local authorities had threatened people who refused to participate in Catholic celebrations in the past, they had never gone so far as to actually cut off the water supply from people's homes.
"Teopisca is an urban community, where you never thought these things would happen, because of the social conditions they enjoy, and the recent workshops about freedom of worship organised here, although the audience was not probably the right one," Christian Organizations in Chiapas coordinator Luis Herrera said, according to Evangelical Focus. "The complaint is in progress."
San Jose is not the only place in Chiapas where this kind of persecution is experienced. In Juarez, Protestant families will be able to enjoy their water supply and electricity again, which had been cut off since February 2014. Like the families in San Jose, they also refused to pay the fees for certain Catholic festivities.
After two years, the authorities in Juarez have decided to uphold religious freedom, so they are restoring the Protestant families' water and electricity.
In spite of the Mexican Constitution's provision to respect religious freedom, the persecution of Christians in the country is increasing. The International Christian Concern recorded more than 70 cases of persecution in Chiapas, Puebla, Hidalgo, Guerrero and Oaxaca in 2015.
