Durango archbishop cites insecurity in mountain communities

Reporting and context

Insecurity is the main challenge facing residents of mountain communities in Durango, where people remain concerned about extortion, violence and other crimes, Archbishop Faustino Armendáriz said, Contexto de Durango reported. The archbishop said the Archdiocese of Durango has a presence in communities extending toward Santiago Papasquiaro, Lajas and Altares. He described residents as calm but still living with uncertainty about the possibility of becoming victims of crime.

Armendáriz said the archdiocese has not identified specific cases of extortion against its parishes, although church officials know people who have been victims of the crime. He also said the churches had not suffered thefts, while acknowledging that religious buildings are not outside the reach of criminal activity. In response, parishes have adopted preventive measures, including installing security cameras, the archbishop told the outlet.

Despite those concerns, religious activities have continued in the communities served by the archdiocese. Armendáriz said about 15,000 people attended an event in Sacatecas, in Chalchihuites, the previous Saturday, arriving from different parts of the Archdiocese of Durango. He added that priests continue their pastoral work and that insecurity has not so far stopped those activities, according to Contexto de Durango. The report did not identify a specific criminal group or provide independent crime data for the communities mentioned.