Mexican priest kidnapped by cartel? Bishops appeal to authorities

The Mexican Episcopal Conference has called on authorities to urgently search for missing priest Clemente Morales, who disappeared in Sinaloa, a region notorious for drug cartel violence. Morales, 67, was last seen in Culiacan, where kidnappings and murders are common. Sinaloa has been a focal point of drug war violence, with over 2,000 deaths reported in Culiacan since the beginning of 2024. The Catholic Church in Mexico has raised concerns about the increasing danger to clergy, with 14 priests killed by organized crime in the past seven years due to their social work and community support.