Religious sect in Mexico physically refuses to let teachers into community

A religious sect in Mexico is physically preventing teachers from entering their enclosed community.

The isolated New Jerusalem sect prohibits formal education. This stance is at odds with Mexican law, which declares grade school compulsory.

Efrain Barrera is a spokesman for the township of Turicato, where the religious sect lives. He thinks it is time to enforce the rule of law to ensure education for the young.

"They are damaging about 250 children. It is not fair that older people want to reproduce and impose their own ignorance on a new generation," said Barrera.

The tension has resulted in fist fights, the destruction of government buildings and the incineration of school property. Mexico hasn't witnessed such prominent hostilities between religion and government since the 1930s, according to The Associated Press.

The New Jerusalem community has approximately 5,000 members. Along with formal education, the sect outlaws popular media, contemporary fashion and many modern luxuries. Literally walled off, the adherents live according to biblical rules in brick homes.

Nabor Cardenas, a former Catholic priest, founded the sect in 1973. Adherents believe the community will be the only safe haven from a supposedly imminent Apocalypse.

Outside police have never been permitted to operate within the community's walls, but pressure for outside authorities to act has been mounting.

On Tuesday, the Catholic Church and the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico said that denying children a proper education is a human rights violation, reports The Associated Press.

But teachers have encountered hostility when they try to enter New Jerusalem.

Members of New Jerusalem want the right to determine the educational coursework and dress code for their children. They believe that outside influences will corrupt their society.

mwalsh@nydailynews.com

Source: http://feeds.nydailynews.com/~r/nydnrss/latino/~3/LlDBy3F8vtw/religious-sect-mexico-physically-refuses-teachers-community-article-1.1143247

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