In a village in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, a pastor was arrested and forced from his community for refusing to bow to the statue of a saint.

In November 2025, Protestant Pastor Mariano Velásquez Martínez begrudgingly agreed to be one of the community’s “mayordomos,” the overseer of religious festivals. Local Catholics promised he would be exempt from participating in Catholic festivals and would only have to provide the candles and flowers for the celebration.

On Jan. 15, the pastor was ordered to pray to an image of St. James during a festival. When he refused, another mayordomo reported him to local authorities, who arrested him.

After five days, officials bound him with a rope, led him out before 180 men — among whom were his uncle and cousin — and expelled him from the community. They forced him to sign a document explaining his departure. Without a copy of his own, Martínez fears the story was fabricated to portray him as having left voluntarily.

The pastor, his wife, and their 3-month-old baby now temporarily live with relatives in Oaxaca City. He leaves behind his mother, four brothers, and a 25-member church, Iglesia Camino Nuevo y Vivo.

Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Mexico, but in rural areas, many practice a form of Christo-paganism. Communities combine ancient pagan and Roman Catholic traditions, expressing them through rituals and festivals. It is especially common for Christians in the south to be marginalized or forced to flee from these communities.

Martínez’s case is not abnormal, and this isn’t the first time a pastor of his church has been forced to leave. In 2023, the previous pastor of Iglesia Camino Nuevo y Vivo was expelled by local officials. Solidarity Worldwide stated, “Oaxaca state has one of the highest incidences of violations of freedom of religion or belief in the country.”

Porfirio Flores Zúñiga, an attorney and representative of the Fellowship of Pastors, filed a complaint with the Defense of Human Rights of the People of Oaxaca, calling them to act. As of Jan. 19, officials have not yet addressed the issue.

CSW’s Director of Advocacy, Anna Lee Stangl, called the Mexican government to seek the pastor’s vindication and protect the right to religious freedom.

“We call on the government of Oaxaca to take swift action to hold those responsible for the forced displacement of this family to account under the law,” she said, “and to take steps to make it clear that freedom of religion or belief must be upheld for all.”

Story by Bella Agnello