| | |  News Around the Republic of Mexico | August 2009 
Mexico Apologizes to Church After Raid During Mass
 Associated Press
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August 05, 2009
| | Mexican Federal Police stand guard beside Rafael Hernandez (L) or Salomon Figueroa alias La Cuchara (The Spoon) and Miguel Angel Beraza Villa, members of the "La Familia Michoacana" drug trafficking gang, in Mexico City August 3, 2009. According to the police, Beraza Villa is one the main distributors of crystal methamphetamine to the U.S. (Reuters) | |
Mexico City — The Mexican government has apologized to Roman Catholic officials and parishioners after storming a church during Mass to arrest a drug suspect.
But the Public Safety Department is standing by the decision to launch the raid, saying it was necessary to avoid a violent confrontation or escape.
In a statement issued Tuesday, the department said it respects religion. It apologized "for the circumstances under which the operation had to be carried out."
Federal police arrested Miguel Angel Baeza, an alleged high-ranking lieutenant in La Familia drug cartel, during a church service in drug-plagued Michoacan state on Sunday.
Mexican Bishops protested the following day, saying "Mass is sacred and must be respected." |
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