More than 33,000 signatures demand justice for murdered priests

Actvate (Get Active) members bring over 33,000 signatures to the Mexican Ministry of the Interior (SEGOB) and the attorney general’s office on August 24, 2022, seeking justice for the June murders of two Jesuit priests. / Image courtesy of Get Active

Denver Newsroom, Aug 26, 2022 / 16:00 pm (CNA).

Actvate (Get Active) handed more than 33,000 signatures to the Ministry of the Interior and the federal attorney general’s office on August 24, demanding justice for two slain Jesuit priests in June.

The signatures were gathered via the online site activate.org.mx.

20 June saw the execution of Jesuit priests Javier Campos Morales and Joaqun César Mora Salazar inside a church in the village of Cerocahui in the Sierra Tarahumara region of the state of Chihuahua. A local businessman, Pedro Eliodoro Palma Gutiérrez, was also slain beside them.

The authorities have thus far apprehended more than a dozen alleged members of the criminal gang to which the accused murderer of two Jesuit priests belongs, but they have been unable to apprehend the alleged killer.

Director of Actvate José ngel Soubervielle stood in front of federal buildings and stated, “sadly, the demand for justice remains a mute scream of society.”

“That is why we went to these agencies to inform the authorities that many people are pleading for genuine peace and calm outside their offices,” he explained.

Soubervielle emphasized that “real justice will not be served until the authorities apprehend those responsible for the murders of the Jesuit priests and tour guide.”

“Therefore, it is evident that impunity still persists around this crime, allowing them to continue acting at whim against a society that is already sick of so many fatalities and instability,” he charged.

The Mexican government has identified José Noriel Portillo Gil, also known as “El Chueco,” as the assassin of the Jesuit priests and the Mexican businessman. The attorney general’s office of the state of Chihuahua has offered a reward of up to 5 million pesos (about $250,000) for information leading to his capture.

More than 120,000 killings are reported to have occurred during the first three and a half years of President López Obrador’s current administration.

This item was originally published by CNA’s Spanish-language news partner, ACI Prensa. CNA has translated and altered the document.