Santa Fe Archbishop John Wester recently told The Associated Press he believes some Catholics may be fooled into venerating Santa Muerte even though the focus on death runs counter to the church’s teachings. People pray to Santa Muerte for all manner of otherworldly help, from fending off wrongdoing and exacting revenge to landing better jobs and stopping lovers from cheating. Wester is one of only a handful of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops who have denounced Santa Muerte. Sis said La Santa Muerte is “spiritually dangerous” and has no link to Catholicism. “In Latin America, church officials rebuke Santa Muerte almost weekly,” Chesnut said.

Source: National Post March 24, 2019 14:41 UTC