Religious Sect in Mexico Physically Refuses to Let Teachers Into Community
The New Jerusalem community has approximately 5,000 members. Along with formal education, the sect outlaws popular media, contemporary fashion and many modern luxuries. Literally walled off, the adherents live according to biblical rules in brick homes.
Nabor Cardenas, a former Catholic priest, founded the sect in 1973. Adherents believe the community will be the only safe haven from a supposedly imminent Apocalypse.
Outside police have never been permitted to operate within the community’s walls, but pressure for outside authorities to act has been mounting.
On Tuesday, the Catholic Church and the National Human Rights Commission of Mexico said that denying children a proper education is a human rights violation, reports The Associated Press.