Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church
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| Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Independent Catholicism |
| Theology | Devotion to Santa Muerte |
| Archbishop | David Romo Guillén[1][2][3] |
| Region | Mexico and United States |
| Origin | 2003 Mexico[1][2][3] |
| Separated from | Roman Catholic Church |
| Defunct | 2012[1][2][3] |
| Official website | http://unicosantuarionacionaldelasantamuerte.com |
The Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church (Spanish: Iglesia Católica Tradicionalista Mexicana-Estadounidense) was an independent Catholic church active in Mexico and the United States. They broke away from the Roman Catholic Church over their veneration of the Mexican folk saint and female deity Santa Muerte. They were primarily active in the border regions of the United States and Mexico and have a particular presence among Mexican immigrants in the United States. It was founded by David Romo Guillén, who served as its archbishop and primate.[1] However, in 2012 he was sentenced to 66 years in prison for kidnapping and extortion.[2][3]
The Traditionalist Mexican-American Catholic Church follows both the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed, maintains the seven sacraments, an all-male priesthood, is open to homosexuals among the faithful and, generally speaking, is socially conservative regarding abortion but does not practice clerical celibacy, allows the use of contraceptives and does not require chastity before marriage. They also maintain their veneration of the Mexican folk saint and female deity Santa Muerte, which the Roman Catholic Church had condemned to be blasphemous and Satanic.[4] They reject the Catholic doctrines of papal infallibility, the Immaculate Conception, and the Assumption of the Virgin Mary.[5]
Church services are conducted every Sunday and attendees often invoke the name of Santa Muerte to intercede before God, rather than other saints, and leave offerings to Santa Muerte. The church follows the Catholic practices of baptism, holy communion, confirmations, weddings, exorcisms, and the praying of rosaries.[6]