The Catholic Church in Mexico has expressed deep sorrow and outrage following the discovery of an organized crime training and extermination camp in Jalisco state. Authorities uncovered clandestine crematoriums at the site, located on the Izaguirre ranch in the Teuchitlán administrative district, about 40 miles from Guadalajara.
The camp was found by the Guerreros Buscadores de Jalisco group, an organization of families searching for missing loved ones. According to the Jalisco state attorney general’s office, six lots of bones corresponding to over 200 victims have been discovered so far. The site had previously been identified by authorities, with a National Guard operation in September 2024 leading to the arrest of ten individuals.
The Mexican Bishops’ Conference (CEM) described the discovery as one of the "cruelest expressions of evil" seen in the country. The bishops emphasized that such acts directly violate human dignity and criticized official statistics on violence, questioning claims that first-degree murders had decreased while disappearances had risen significantly. They urged the government to take effective measures to prevent these crimes and hold perpetrators accountable.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to the bishops' statement, asserting that their information was inaccurate and offering to have the Ministry of the Interior clarify the situation.
In response to the discovery, several religious events have been planned to honor the victims. On March 15, a Mass for the disappeared will be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Mexico City, followed by a vigil in the city’s Zócalo square organized by the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious of Mexico. The vigil will feature 400 shoes and candles to symbolize victims of forced disappearances. Additionally, a day of prayer and consolation, including a pilgrimage and Mass, will take place on March 16 in Teuchitlán, Jalisco.
The bishops called on Catholics to use the Lenten season as a time for prayer, support for victims, and efforts to rebuild social unity. They reaffirmed their commitment to being a voice for the voiceless and working toward a just and peaceful society.