Mexico City mayor sues cardinal for slander; prelate refuses to back down

August 19, 2010

Mexico City’s Mayor Marcelo Ebrard has fulfilled a threat to file a lawsuit against Cardinal Juan Sandoval Iniguez, after the cardinal refused to apologize for his suggestion that Mexican judges had been given inducements to approve a law allowing same-sex marriage.

A spokesman for Archdiocese of Guadalajara said that Cardinal Sandoval stands by his charge that supreme court judges were “fed” by leftist political leaders. The cardinal’s spokesman, Antonio Guttierrez, said that the prelate had “specific” evidence for his charge.

Mayor Ebrard denied that the cardinal could introduce evidence of bribery. “They should present proof—which we know they don’t have,” he said. The mayor claimed that he was suing the cardinal in order to uphold the principle of church-state separation.

Cardinal Sandoval's spokesman (who was incorrectly identified in an AP story as an archbishop) said that Mayor Ebrard was free to bring his complaint to the civil courts, and the cardinal was confident that his evidence would prove decisive. He added that Cardinal Sandoval would also be free to file suit it any malicious accusations were raised against him.

 

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Further information:

• Mexico City mayor files lawsuit against cardinal (AP)
• Cardinal Has Proof Mexican Justices Were Bribed for Gay 'Marriage' Vote: Archdiocese (LifeSite News)