Mexico: Behind closed doors, senators pass controversial religious reform
Friday, March 30th, 2012
(("No to reform of Article 24. Yes to the secular state." -- La Jornada photo by Francisco Olvera))
Constitutional reform seen as threat to secular state
[Translation of an article from La Jornada of Mexico City for March 29. See original here.]
by Andrea Becerril and Víctor Ballinas
In a closed chamber yesterday, with empty galleries so no protesters could slip in, the PRI-PAN [Partido Revolucionario Institucional, Partido Acción Nacional] majority of the Senate had to work hard to do it but finally attained the required vote and approved reforms to Article 24 of the constitution.
The change consists of adding to the concept of freedom of religion, already addressed in that provision of the document, the “freedom of conscience and ethical convictions.” (more…)