The Bishop of Celaya is Monsignor Jesus Humberto Velazquez Garay (Diócesis de Celaya 14 June 2001). Born in Culiacan, State of Sinaloa, on 16 May 1940, he was ordained as a priest on 12 March 1964; he was ordained as auxiliary bishop of Culiacan on 4 May 1983, and on 5 May 1988 Pope John Paul II ordained him as Bishop of Celaya (ibid.).

No references to the excommunication of priests within the Diocese of Celaya during the period 1998-2002 could be found among the published sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

A 28 August 2001 article from a Celaya newspaper reports on some priests being moved by Bishop Velazquez to different parishes within the Diocese of Celaya (El Sol del Bajío). The report states that the priests of two parishes were leaving due to unspecified health reasons (ibid.).

The only reference found on sexual misconduct involving the Diocese of Celaya and minors is a late 1997 report from La Jornada. The source reports that the Diocese of Celaya had initiated an investigation on a Marista Brother (not an ordained priest) heading the Celayan Cultural Institute (Instituto Cultural Celayense, ICC), who stood accused of prostituting minors (11 Oct. 1997). This investigation reportedly added to ongoing investigations on the same individual by the State Attorney General of Guanajuato and the Marista Order in Mexico (ibid.). No reports on the conclusion of the investigation or subsequent actions by the Diocese could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Diócesis de Celaya, Guanajuato. 14 June 2001. "Obispo Diocesiano." http://www.diocesisdecelaya.org.mx/obispo_d.html [Accessed 12 June 2002]

La Jornada [Mexico City]. 11 October 1997. Alma E. Muñoz. "Indaga la diócesis de Celaya al marista acusado de prostituir menores." http://www.jornada.unam.mx/1997/oct97/971011/marista.html [Accessed 13 June 2002]

El Sol del Bajío [Celaya]. 28 August 2001. "Cambia Obispo a párrocos." http://www.celaya.com.mx/informate/agosto01/280801.htm [Accessed 12 June 2002]

BBC News. Searchable archives, 1997-2002.

El Informador [Guadalajara, Jalisco]. Searchable archives, 1997-2001.

IRB Databases.

La Jornada [Mexico City]. Searchable archives, 1998-2001.

La República [Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas]. Searchable archives, 1999-2001.

El Sol del Bajío [Celaya]. Searchable archives, 2001-Mar. 2002.

Internet sites and search engines.

Note:

This list is not exhaustive. Country-specific publications available in the Resource Centre are not included.