MEXICO CITY —
Members of a Catholic youth group were shot at and robbed as they transported
earthquake relief to southern Mexico, leaving two volunteers hospitalized.
Another volunteer was sexually assaulted.
The youths
belonged to the Catholic foundation Papa Francisco Pro Felicitas A.C.
The attack
occurred Sept. 26, said a statement from the Archdiocese of Mexico City.
Assailants took supplies, the youths' cellphones and approximately $2,300
collected to purchase items to donate in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region.
"We are very
sad. We have cried at the impotence of the situation, as much for the young
people as the girl who was raped," said the statement. "We hope that
both (of the injured) survive. We are still awaiting a medical report on these
brave young people."
The foundation
director, Carlos Arvizu, told the archdiocesan publication Desde la Fe one
volunteer was shot in the neck, while the other was badly beaten.
"Neither the
federal government nor the locals helped with emergency duties and didn't
provided security," Arvizu said. "This is showing that after the
earthquake ... it's total anarchy."
The Sept. 7 quake
struck southern Mexico, leaving almost 100 dead and many more homeless in
Oaxaca and Chiapas states. The Sept. 19 quake struck closer to Mexico City and
claimed at least 337 lives. The federal government reports the disasters
damaged more than 150,000 homes, while church officials in dioceses close to
the capital report massive damage to churches.
Mexicans have
responded to the earthquakes with an enormous outpouring of generosity and
solidarity, including the church, through Caritas, the church's charitable
agency.
Many centers
collecting donations for earthquake relief have had to turn away volunteers
because so many people were willing to help. Some centers in Mexico City
started sending donations such as food, water, medicine and blankets to other
hard-hits states.
Young people —
including church youth groups — have been especially eager to assist.
Seminarians in Cuernavaca formed brigades to remove rubble and turned their
seminary into a massive collection center.
"Youth have
responded in an extraordinary way," said Bishop Ramon Castro Castro of
Cuernavaca. "All the seminarians are heading out into small towns,"
where damage was substantial.
The Archdiocese
of Mexico announced it would hold a special collection for earthquake relief
and reconstruction Oct. 1.