Mexico: Persecution of Religious Minorities

This case study addresses the growth of Protestantism in predominantly Catholic Mexico and the resulting sectarian hostilities from the 1960s through the 1990s, with particular attention paid to the Chiapas locality of San Juan Chamula, where the worst violence and anti-Protestant oppression occurred. The case study answers four overarching questions: What are the historical origins of religious difference in Chiapas? What caused violence between religious groups in the 1960s-1990s? Were international religious and political forces important? What role did socio-economic factors play? Along with the core text, the case study also includes a list of recommended readings for further information on Catholic-Protestant dynamics in Mexico and Latin America.