The cult of Santa Muerte is present throughout the strata of Mexican society, although the majority of devotees are from the urban working class.[32] Most are young people, aged in their teens, twenties, or thirties, and are also mostly female.[33] A large following developed among Mexicans who are disillusioned with the dominant, institutional Catholic Church and, in particular, with the inability of established Catholic saints to deliver them from poverty.[7]
The phenomenon is based among people with scarce resources, excluded from the formal market economy, as well as the judicial and educational systems, primarily in the inner cities and the very rural areas.[4] Devotion to Santa Muerte is what anthropologists call a "cult of crisis". Devotion to the image peaks during economic and social hardships, which tend to affect the working classes more. Santa Muerte tends to attract those in extremely difficult or hopeless situations but also appeals to smaller sectors of middle class professionals and even the affluent.[6][29] Some of her most devoted followers are those individuals associated with petty economic crimes, committed often out of desperation; such as prostitutes, pickpockets and thieves.[4]
The worship of Santa Muerte also attracts those who are not inclined to seek the traditional Catholic Church for spiritual solace, as it is part of the "legitimate" sector of society. Many followers of Santa Muerte live on the margins of the law or outside it entirely. Many street vendors, taxi drivers, vendors of counterfeit merchandise, street people, prostitutes, pickpockets, petty drug traffickers and gang members are not practicing Catholics or Protestants, but neither are they atheists.[4]
In essence they have created their own new religion that reflects their realities, identity, and practices, especially since it speaks to the violence and struggles for life that many of these people face.[4] Conversely both police and military in Mexico can be counted among the faithful who ask for blessings on their weapons and ammunition.[4]
While worship is largely based in poor neighborhoods, Santa Muerte is also venerated in affluent areas such as Mexico City's Condesa and Coyoacán districts.[18] However, negative media coverage of the worship and condemnation by the Catholic Church in Mexico and certain Protestant denominations have influenced public perception of the cult of Santa Muerte. With the exception of some artists and politicians, some of whom perform rituals secretly, those in higher socioeconomic strata look upon the veneration with distaste as a form of superstition.[6]
Association with the LGBT communityEdit
Santa Muerte is also seen as a protector of homosexual, bisexual, and transgender communities in Mexico,[34] since many are considered to be outcast from society.[35] Many LGBT people ask her for protection from violence, hatred, disease, and to help them in search of love.[36][37]
Her intercession is commonly invoked in same-sex marriage ceremonies performed in Mexico.[38][39] The Iglesia Católica Tradicional México-Estados Unidos, also known as the Church of Santa Muerte, recognizes gay marriage and performs religious wedding ceremonies for homosexual couples.[40][41][42][43]
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Muerte
I'd avoid making assumptions.
= new reply since forum marked as read
