The Church

"I'm not saying we weren't afraid. We're all afraid, but we can't let it paralyze us. Jesus was afraid, not paralyzed. He did what he had to, to redeem us all. Jesus inspires us not to be afraid. The fear that paralyzes is the fear we should be most afraid of. Terror makes you stand still. But when fear makes you think and makes you walk, you realize its a step. It's the way to achieve something better." -Father Heriberto

For many indigenous people around the world, the Catholic Church has represented an entity which has been oppressive and controlling. However, in Chiapas, leading members of the Church have helped to bridge the gap between the government and the people. One man in particular, Bishop Samual Ruiz of San Cristobal de las Casas, has taken an important role as mediator in the peace talks between the Zapatistas and the Government.

Don Samuel, as he is called by the people, can be seen escorting the Comandantes of the Zapatista Army to peace talks and is the president of National Mediation Commission (the Spanish acronym is CONAI). He veiws the situation as a road towards seeking "unity and reconciliation of all the different groups in Chiapas". However, he feels that in the past years since the uprising peace is not getting any closer. "I sense that the situation has deteriorated. Violent acts keep on
happening and those who commit violent acts go unpunished. It seems we are farther away from a real dialogue, while one of the parts keeps on trying to minimize the size and importance of the other part."

All photographs copyright 1997 by Scott Sady