Between the Cross and the Cartel

This thesis has evaluated the effectiveness of the advocacy strategy aimed at improving the situation of priests facing violence perpetrated by organized crime. Due to their societal role within local communities, priests are often subjected to harassment or even assassination. This study has identified the main actors involved in the advocacy strategy as the Centro Católico Multimedial (CCM), the Observatory of Religious Freedom in Latin America (OLIRE), Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), and Dennis Petri (in his capacity with various organizations). To date, the advocacy strategy has proven largely ineffective in generating substantial impact or achieving meaningful improvements in the conditions faced by priests. With regard to intermediate outcomes, the strategy has shown limited effectiveness. It has contributed to a certain level of awareness among advocacy targets and the general public, although the extent of this awareness remains unclear. Moreover, the effectiveness of the advocacy strategy is constrained by several factors: incomplete or inaccurate documentation of incidents, a lack of political will among Mexican authorities to address the issue, and insufficient understanding of religious freedom among policymakers.