Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church
| Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Independent Catholicism |
| Theology | Devotion to Santa Muerte |
| Archbishop | David Romo Guillén[1][2][3] |
| Region | Mexico and United States |
| Origin | 2003 Mexico[1][2][3] |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church |
| Defunct | 2012[1][2][3] |
| Official website | http://unicosantuarionacionaldelasantamuerte.com |
The Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church (Spanish: Iglesia Católica Tradicionalista Mexicana-Estadounidense) was an independent Catholic church active in Mexico and the United States. They broke away from the Roman Catholic Church over their veneration of the Mexican folk saint and female deity Santa Muerte. They were primarily active in the border regions of the United States and Mexico and have a particular presence among Mexican immigrants in the United States. It was founded by David Romo Guillén, who served as its archbishop and primate.[1] However, in 2012 he was sentenced to 66 years in prison for kidnapping and extortion.[2][3]
Beliefs and organization
The Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church follows both the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed, maintains the seven sacraments, an all-male priesthood, is open to homosexuals among the faithful and, generally speaking, is socially conservative regarding abortion but does not practice clerical celibacy, allows the use of contraceptives and does not require chastity before marriage. They also maintain their veneration of the Mexican folk saint and female deity Santa Muerte, which the Roman Catholic Church had condemned to be blasphemous and Satanic.[4] They reject the Catholic doctrines of papal infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.[5]
Church services are conducted every Sunday and attendees often invoke the name of Santa Muerte to intercede before God, rather than other saints, and leave offerings to Santa Muerte. The church follows the Catholic practices of baptism, holy communion, confirmations, weddings, exorcisms, and the praying of rosaries.[6]
Status in Mexico
Due to the connection between Santa Muerte and drug trafficking in Mexico, the Mexican federal government ruled that the Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church did not have the qualifications for a religion and removed the Church from the list of officially recognized religions. Protests arose in 2006 among church members, although the Church can legally worship without recognition from the government.[7]
References
- ^ a b c d Chesnut, R. Andrew (2018) [2012]. Devoted to Death: Santa Muerte, the Skeleton Saint (Second ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. pp. 17–18. doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199764662.001.0001. ISBN 978-0-19-063332-5. LCCN 2011009177.
- ^ a b c d "Dan 66 años de cárcel a líder de la Santa Muerte". El Universal (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-01-06.
- ^ a b c d Villarreal, Hector (2009-04-05). "La Guerra Santa de la Santa Muerte" [The Holy War of Santa Muerte]. Milenio semana (in Spanish). Mexico City: Milenio. Archived from the original on 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-07.
- ^ "El culto a la Santa Muerte: un estudio descriptivo". Udlondres.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
- ^ "Unico Santuario Nacional de la Santa Muerte". Archived from the original on 2009-08-30. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
- ^ "MEXICAN-U.S. CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC TRADITIONAL CHURCH". Archived from the original on 2016-03-15. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link) in 2016 - ^ Villarreal, Hector (2009-04-05). "La Guerra Santa de la Santa Muerte" [The Holy War of Santa Muerte]. Milenio semana (in Spanish). Mexico City: Milenio. Archived from the original on 2009-10-16. Retrieved 2009-10-07.