Faithful belonging to a religious group of followers of the Virgen del Rosario, listen to speeches against secular education in Nueva Jerusalen, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities said talks continued Monday with both sect traditionalists who reject schools and reformists who want an education for their kids. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Faithful belonging to a religious group of followers of the Virgen del Rosario, listen to speeches against secular education in Nueva Jerusalen, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities said talks continued Monday with both sect traditionalists who reject schools and reformists who want an education for their kids. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Father Luis Maria, spokesman of a religious group of followers of the Virgen del Rosario, delivers a speech against secular education in Nueva Jerusalen, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities are still unable to overcome the resistance of an apocalyptic religious sect in western Mexico which has refused to allow public school teachers to hold classes in their town. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Students carry a banner during a protest in favor of secular education in Nueva Jerusalen, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities are still unable to overcome the resistance of an apocalyptic religious sect in western Mexico which has refused to allow public school teachers to hold classes in their town of Nuevo Jerusalen. The banner reads in Spanish" Fanaticism and ignorance have kidnapped the schools of our sons, our future. Enough!" (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
A woman looks from her house's door as students protest in favor of secular education in Nueva Jerusalen, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities are still unable to overcome the resistance of an apocalyptic religious sect in Western Mexico which has refused to allow public school teachers to hold classes in their town. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
Federal Police officers walk past residents of Nueva Jerusalen as they enter the city, Mexico, Monday, Aug. 27, 2012. Mexican authorities are still unable to overcome the resistance of an apocalyptic religious sect in western Mexico which has refused to allow public school teachers to hold classes in their town. (AP Photo/Alexandre Meneghini)
NUEVA JERUSALEN, Mexico (AP) ? Mexican authorities were unable Monday to overcome the resistance of an apocalyptic religious sect in western Mexico that has refused to allow public school teachers to hold classes in their town of Nueva Jerusalen, or New Jerusalem.
Lines of sect followers in brightly-colored robes lined up at the gated entrance to the town to face down dozens of federal and state police sent in Monday after an apparent compromise plan to set up schools outside the town broke down.
School was supposed to start earlier this month, but adherents of the quasi-Catholic sect burned and razed public schools in July because the school uniforms didn't conform to the sect's ban on modern dress and customs.
Women in New Jerusalem must wear colored robes depending on their status, and modern music, dance, sports and entertainment are all prohibited.
Authorities in the western state of Michoacan had pledged to have the schools back in service by Monday, but no classes were held because conservative members of the sect won't allow classes inside the temple-and-housing complex, and reformists ? who want their kids to go to school ? won't accept a proposed compromise to hold classes in neighboring towns.
Federal police commander Miguel Guerrero said talks continued Monday with both sect traditionalists and reformists.
"We are simply discussing the community's situation," Guerrero said after the talks.
Under Mexican law, grade school education is compulsory. The community practices a form of Latin Mass that is not recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. The sect believes the town will be the only place saved in an impending apocalypse, which it predicts but no longer sets a date for.
Associated Pressroger federer Olga Korbut Usain Bolt 2012 Olympics Katie Ledecky Aaron Ross Sikh temple iPhone 5
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.