BREAKING Catholic Bishops Demand Thorough Investigation after a Priest was Killed - RIP Father Román de la Cruz

Catholic Church Demands Justice After a Priest is Murdered in Hidalgo, Mexico

The Roman Catholic Church in Mexico has issued an urgent plea for justice following the tragic murder of Father Román de la Cruz Hernández. The 48-year-old priest, who served as the parish leader of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, was found shot to death along a rural highway in the Huasteca region of Hidalgo.

Following the confirmation of his death, the Bishop of Huejutla, Monseigneur José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán, strongly condemned the violent act and demanded an immediate, thorough investigation by state law enforcement.

A Shocking Discovery in the Huasteca Region

Father Román de la Cruz Hernández was originally a native of Mazahuacán, within the municipality of Lolotla. Since September 2024, he had been serving as the first diocesan parish priest of Santa Cruz in Huejutla, alongside his role coordinating the Commission for Prophetic Pastoral Care in the region.

His body was discovered on a stretch of dirt road along the Tolago-Tetlapaya highway, on the border between the municipalities of Lolotla and Tlanchinol. Authorities reported that the priest had suffered multiple gunshot wounds. Near his body and an abandoned pickup truck, investigators found a physical message attached to the victim, a practice frequently associated with criminal groups in the country.

The State Attorney General's Office of Hidalgo (Procuraduría General de Justicia del Estado de Hidalgo) has opened a formal homicide investigation to establish the facts and track down those responsible.

Church Leadership Calls for an End to Impunity

In an official statement co-signed by Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán and Chancellor Israel Arriaga Flores, the Diocese of Huejutla expressed deep grief and shock over the priest's death.

The diocese urged the public and parish members to refrain from speculation regarding the motives behind the killing, asking the community to allow law enforcement officials to perform their duty. However, church leaders made it clear that passive waiting would not suffice.

"We demand that the competent authorities carry out an exhaustive investigation that allows for the clarification of these facts. This crime, along with the many others that continue to hurt our nation, must not remain unpunished."

— Monseigneur José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán, Bishop of Huejutla

The Conference of the Mexican Episcopate (CEM) and surrounding dioceses also voiced solidarity with Huejutla, reaffirming the urgency of solving crimes against clergy and civilians alike.

The Bishops wrote, We ask God for his eternal rest and for the consolation of his family and community. At the same time, we call on the authorities to clarify these events and seek justice. We entrust the Diocese of Huejutla to Our Lady of Guadalupe, Queen of Peace.
A Broader Call for Peace

Beyond demanding accountability, the Diocese of Huejutla called upon local communities, Catholic faithful, and society at large to unite against the cycle of violence affecting rural and urban regions of Mexico.

Bishop Acosta Beltrán urged citizens to actively foster a "culture of peace and reconciliation" to combat the systemic violence taking lives across the country.

As state forensic experts and investigators process evidence from the crime scene, local parishioners continue to hold vigils in memory of Father Román, praying for both justice and stability in the Huasteca hidalguense.

Sources: https://www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/obispo-de-huejutla-hidalgo-pide-el-esclarecimiento-del-asesinato-de-parroco-exige-que-crimen-no-quede-impune/

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