Irony of ironies. I can think of no institution that is capable of beating the Catholic Church in hypocrisy, and the discrepancy between church doctrine and its actions is for political observers a gift that just keeps on giving. The most recent case is that of the Bishop of Ecatepec, Onésimo Cépeda Silva.
Just a few days ago, the Archdiocese of Mexico condemned, though it didn't name, governors, police forces, military officers, business sectors, and even "some religious environments" for having ties to the narcos and organized crime.
It is well known that Cardenal Juan Sandoval Iñiguez of Guadalajara has been under federal investigation for money laundering for the narcos and illicit enrichment, though he was exonerated; Jorge Carpizo, former attorney general of Mexico, bitterly complained that the case was blocked for political reasons - and Carpizo even took the case directly to the Vatican, so far with no luck.
Now, a federal judge has reopened the case against Bishop Onésimo Cépeda, one of the church's most sinister and reactionary characters, and businessman Jaime Matute for a $130-million dollar (!) fraud, where Batute in collusion with Cépeda allegedly falsely acquired ownership titles of a range of highly valuable paintings, many of which in addition may be considered part of Mexico's national patrimony.
Let He Who Is Without Sin Cast The First Stone, as the verse goes. This case may not be related directly to the narcos, but the charges of engaging in organized crime are very grave.
Should Cépeda be convicted - unlikely given his connections to powers-that-be, including Mexico State Governor Enrique Peña Nieto - the church may think twice before it starts hurling stones in a glass house. Though given the story of the Mexican Church in Mexico, I don't find that too likely either.
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