NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      SAN CRISTOBAL DE LAS CASAS, Mexico (CWNews.com) - A group of Mexican Catholics in violence-torn Chiapas state on Tuesday sent a letter to Pope John Paul II asking him to remove their bishop for allegedly supporting Marxist rebels.

      A coalition of four groups accused Bishop Samuel Ruiz of falsifying "Catholic doctrine in favor of a Marxist socialist revolution." The groups asked the Holy Father to appoint "a pastor who teaches the authentic Catholic doctrine." Bishop Ruiz had served as a mediator between the Zapatista Indian rebels and the government until last year when he was accused of favoring the rebels in talks.

      The Holy Father begins a four-day visit to Mexico on Friday. An assistant to the bishop, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Bishop Ruiz will not have any comment until the Holy Father has read the letter.