Mexican police have closed Christ Church in Mexico City, charging the capital’s English-speaking Episcopal congregation with violating local land-use ordinances. Church officials deny the charges.

According to the Most Rev. Carlos Touché-Porter, Archbishop and Primate of Mexico, police entered the church on March 15, sealing the church and parish hall with tape. Parish officials were served with a government order stating the church was “permanently and completely closed,” The Herald of Mexico City reported.

Christ Church’s rector, the Rev. Vincent Schwahn ignored the order, holding a service that evening that was attended by several members of the diplomatic corps.

City officials stated March 16 that the seizure was prompted by the church’s having failed to pay property taxes, not complying with zoning ordinances, and having insufficient parking spaces. Lawyers for the Church denied the charges, noting that under Mexican law all church buildings are the property of the Mexican Federal government and not liable for property taxes. They also dismissed the charge the church was in violation of zoning and parking ordinances, noting that a similar charge had been raised in July 2005, but dismissed by local officials.

“The real reason behind the story is that some powerful Roman Catholic neighbors have been pushing the local authorities of the borough where the Church is located” to shut the church down, said Archbishop Touché-Porter, but he noted, “the Roman Catholic Church is not involved in this problem.” Rivalries between the PAN and PRI political parties may also be playing a role, sources say.

A spokesman for Archbishop Touché-Porter anticipated the incident would be resolved without recourse to litigation.

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