---

AP, via CBC, USA
Feb. 20, 2008
www.cbc.ca

---

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Item 20714 • Posted: Thursday February 21, 2008  

---

MEXICO CITY – Mexican police were sent to a religious community with thousands of members to maintain order after its reclusive leader died amid a bitter power struggle over who would succeed him, authorities said Wednesday.

Nabor Cardenas, a defrocked Roman Catholic priest known as “Papa Nabor” and founder of the New Jerusalem religious community, died Tuesday of renal and respiratory problems, Michoacan’s state government said in a statement.

Cardenas, 98, hadn’t been seen in public since he fell ill in 2005.

Police were sent to the area, located about 360 kilometres west of Mexico City, in case problems arise, said Magdalena Guzman, a spokeswoman for state investigators.

They remained outside the chained compound where about 5,000 of Cardenas’ followers live in small brick houses set around a cathedral in Michoacan.

The struggle over his successor has raged for several years. A man was shot dead inside the compound in 2005 and two others arrested in a dispute related to the struggle.

“I trust that in the era following Papa Nabor, the groups in New Jerusalem will lead a harmonious and tolerant coexistence,” Michoacan Gov. Leonel Godoy said Wednesday.

Members believe the compound will be the only place on Earth spared from what they believe is the impending Apocalypse.

Residents of the compound are forbidden from using many modern conveniences and women, referred to as “nuns” or “courtesans,” dress in robes and are not allowed to wear makeup. At one time, they were also prohibited from having children or attending school beyond Grade 5.

Most members farm the surrounding hillsides and celebrate mass in Latin, using old exorcism and baptism rituals long abandoned by the mainstream church.

---

What You Can Do From Here

---

Read More Articles On These Topics Categories: Nabor Cardenas, New Jerusalem (Mexico), Nueva Jerusalem Tags: Mexico, Nabor Cardenas, New Jerusalem (Mexico), Traditionalist Catholicism Share, Blog About, Bookmark, or Email This Article Subscribe Religion News Blog RSS feed [What is this?] RSS by topic: Nabor Cardenas, New Jerusalem (Mexico), Nueva Jerusalem Read Another Article Previous entry: Sharia law can be appalling, says archbishop Next entry: Cult boss extradited to face sex raps RNB Homepage with latest headlines Find Related Information Use our custom search engines to find additional research resources on religions and cults Find Related Books Nabor Cardenas Most Popular Today Scientology’s feet held to the fire in Australia: Struggle between a church and the state

---

Share This Article

---

To share this page simply copy and paste one of these URL's:

• Post a link on your blog or website:
  
• Send in an email or IM:
  
• Post on a forum:
  

Search for information about (religious) cults, cult-like organizations, -- as well as paranormal-, New Age, and pseudoscientific claims -- across 260+ websites, blogs and forums dedicated to cult research, spiritual abuse, ex-cult counseling & support.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- CounterCultSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.

Search for apologetics articles, books, videos, and other research resources across 135 Christian apologetics websites and blogs.

Note: results are listed on another domain -- ApologeticsSearch.com -- from which you can easily return here.