Even Violent Drug Cartels Fear God

At The New York Times Magazine, Damien Cave investigates the work of the Rev. Robert Coogan, an American-born priest living in Mexico who has dedicated himself to helping underprivileged Mexicans, as well as Mexican prison inmates and criminals. Coogan often performs Mass for some of Mexico’s most feared drug cartels, such as the Zetas. Cave writes, “As we drove through his neighborhood on our way to Mass — this one at a small church that he and his neighbors are building 5 and 10 pesos at a time — it was hard not to think of how much would be lost if Coogan ever decided to move on. His sermon seemed to be a pep talk directed as much at himself as the crowd that filled the rough little church with pine benches for pews.” 

Read at The New York Times Magazine

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