Father Felice Palamara (pictured) - who is known for bravely denouncing organised crime in his small town - narrowly missed drinking the lethal mixture when celebrating Mass last Saturday.

Fortunately, he smelt the bleach just before he drank from the poison chalice. He immediately suspended the Mass and called the police.

After investigating, the police found Palamara's altar cruets of water and wine had been laced with bleach.

"I'm sure that this act of intimidation has nothing to do with my parishioners because I have been here for 10 years and I have always had good relations with the people of the parish" Palamara says.

"We don't allow anyone to do harm to the parish. Nobody can stop a town that deserves redemption and that wants to grow."

Mafia connection

The poison chalice attempt occurred in Cessaniti in the southern region of Calabria. That's where the powerful ‘Ndrangheta crime network originated.

The ‘Ndrangheta is believed to be the world's richest organised crime group.

It has made tens of billions of dollars from trafficking cocaine and has ties across Europe.

They are thought to be behind the string of threats and intimidation Palamara has suffered, including numerous death threats by post and email. His car has also been vandalised twice in recent months, he says.

Police are checking potential links to a dead cat found on the steps of a nearby church, and are trawling hours of CCTV footage of that church and Palamara's.

"We aren't sure whether it's organised crime or someone with a grudge against the church, Satanists or just cranks but it's being taken very seriously" a source says. The incident with the bleach could have had serious repercussions had Palamara swallowed it.

'The most likely theory is organised crime and the local mafia but until we know for sure nothing is being ruled out and an open mind is being kept."

Forgiveness rules

Local Bishop Attilio Nostro visited the parish last weekend. He is concerned for parishioners.

"The Diocese is ... suffering because of these intimidating acts which have nothing to do with the Christian life of a parish.

"That is why I am appealing to the Christian community that they do not allow themselves to be discouraged by the violent language.

"We should not give in to this logic and be tempted by anger and discomfort. We must not respond to hate with hate as we know that it's not possible to dialogue in this way."

Palamara says he is not out for vengeance to punish his would-be assassins.

"My vendetta is love, my shield is forgiveness and my armour pity" he says.

"I'm serene, and besides offering pity and forgiveness, I hope that justice is done and there is clarity on these criminal episodes."

Police have been assigned to give Palamara 24/7 protection until the case is solved.

Source

• New York Post
• Daily Mail

They are looking to laypeople, especially the young, to cooperate with the law.

"We have had meetings of businessmen, women, young people, consecrated men and women, seminarians, priests..." says Archbishop Rogelio Cabrera López, Mexico Bishops' Conference president.

He says it's important they involve the entire community in a national meeting to choose a way to promote peace.

A country where there is no justice can have no order or tranquillity, López says.

"That is why the national meeting is important ... [so we] sit down to discuss these issues that hurt a lot in our country.

"In our archdiocese, there are about 10,000 prisoners, men and women, who we have to encourage, promote and guide towards a path of conversion so that when they are free, they can be respectful of the law and respectful of human beings," Cabrera says.

The Church is reconsidering the role all Mexicans have "in this fight so that there is peace in Mexico".

Youth ministry and education

The Church's plan to combat violence and crime involves targeting young people in street and gang situations.

It has established the "New Race" apostolate, where Church personnel try to "convert" young people into being missionaries for peace.

This involves convincing young people that the way of peace is the way of God, Cabrera says.

He highlights the importance of youth ministry and education that responds to the people's needs.

He adds that it also needs to guarantee security and justice within the context of increasing numbers of missing people and in violence and crime.

Violence is a serious issue related to drug trafficking and criminal activities.

He also points to Mexico's political, business and social sectors which can also exacerbate poverty and rob people of opportunities for integral development.

Official crime statistics

Official figures show Mexico had 15,122 homicides in the first half of this year; in June, there were 2,536.

In 2023, the Federal and State Penitentiary System said Mexico's 284 penitentiary centres had 232,230 inmates.

The Ministry of the Interior reported 111,461 people missing from 1962 to 10 September 2023.

Why the violence?

"Mexico's violence is the result of a multi-level, uncoordinated judicial system that has been incapable of controlling criminal networks that are increasingly fractured and geographically dispersed," the Mexico Institute says.

"Today's crisis is the result of changes in the modus operandi of criminals that are not mirrored by changes in Mexico's judicial and police institutions," it said.

The 2021 Global Organised Crime Index demonstrates that widespread systemic corruption has allowed criminal networks to flourish in Mexico.

Source

• La Croix