Discrimination
According to Patricia Fortuny, members of the church, as well as members of other non-catholic denominations, are treated as "second class citizens". The church is referred to as a "sect" in an offensive manner in Mexico. In 1995 during the time that thousands of members of the church go to Guadalajara for their Holy Supper celebration several members of a neighboring community supported by Cardenal Juan Sandoval Íñiguez protested the use of schools that provided temporary shelters for the Luz del Mundo pilgrims. Among their claims they stated that conditions that the schools were left in after the ceremony were worse than before, however church authorities presented photographic evidence to newspapers to rebuke accusations that the schools were left in worse shape. After the Heaven's Gate suicide in 1997, the Church was accused in Mexico of having the potential to commit a similar act. Jorge Erdely accused the Church of having this potential for suicide in Mexican TV in March 27, 1997. The Church was one of many groups that were victims of, according to Bromley and Melton, "ideological enemies" accusing La Luz del Mundo church and other groups of having potential for mass suicides using "fraudulent claims".
According to Armando Maya Castro, many students who are members of the church have been discriminated against for refusing to partake in celebrations and customs dealing with the Day of the Dead in their schools and even have been punished for it. In one case reported by a Mexican newspaper, La Gaceta, a female member of the church was pushed by a fellow bus passenger who then crossed herself as a result of how she was dressed with a long skirt. In July 25 of 2008 a public official sealed the entrance to a La Luz del Mundo temple in Puero Vallarta, Jalisco trapping the congregation inside until other officials were able to remove the seals. This was a result of complaints from individuals who did not like the presence of the church in the area. Reporter Rodolfo Chávez Calderón stated the church was in compliance with local laws.
Members of the church are treated badly in Guadalajara, Mexico especially when it comes to the women. Oftentimes female members of the church are portrayed as oppressed and ignorant women regardless of the increasing number of women in the church who are obtaining and already have achieved professional carriers and higher education. Many women have faced discrimination and verbal abuse in busses, schools, and even hospitals. Church members who were patients in a Mexican hospital were denied access to their ministers in 2011. The hospital required permission to be granted by Catholic clergy so that LLDM ministers could visit patients that belonged to La Luz del Mundo.
Ministers of the church have reported that the site of a newly constructed temple in Silao has been subject to harassment of its members, vandalism, and physical threats as a result of religious intolerance which have caused them to request increased police protection. In February 2012 seventy ministers of La Luz del Mundo from different nations jointly appeared before Mexican authorities of Guadalajara to denounce the lack of police protection the church's residents receive in the city of Guadalajara after a series of attacks left several members of the church hospitalized and injured.
Church founder Joaquín González was beaten by Cristeros and jailed by the government for preaching in the open air.
Read more about this topic: La Luz Del Mundo