Church documents 304 martyrs in Latin America so far this century

The Catholic Church has documented 304 martyrs in Latin America so far this century. These are men and women killed not only for professing their faith but also for defending the poor, confronting organized crime, and protecting creation.Their stories are part of a global catalog of martyrs promoted by the Vatican that already exceeds 1,700 documented cases.“Many were murdered for reasons related to drug trafficking, deforestation, or for opposing the exploitation of natural resources,” explained Cardinal Marcello Semeraro, prefect of…