The construction of the first Santa Muerte temple along with a 36 foot tall effigy of the Skeleton Saint in Guatemala continues to cause considerable controversy both nationally and especially in the town where it’s being built. Opponents, who judging by their slogans appear to be mostly Pentecostals, have ramped up their protests from social media to an on-site demonstration yesterday. Guatemala is home to the largest Pentecostal population (in relative terms) on the planet and Pentecostals are known for waging spiritual warfare against alternative religious movements and spiritualities which they view as satanic.
On March 1st community authorities and municipalities, along with local residents, held a sizeable demonstration opposing further construction and operation of the Encanto del Keme center, the first Santa Muerte temple in Guatemala.The demonstration began on a soccer field in Llanos de Urbina, Cantel, Quetzaltenango. On February 21 residents woke up to a new 36 foot tall effigy of the Skeleton Saint on the temple grounds.
“God is the source of life, a spring of the water of life that never runs dry. God gives life which means that death does not have the final word,” read one of the signs held by a protester opposing the construction of the temple. Residents from nearby Totonicapán joined the demonstration.
The protesters marched toward the construction site of the temple. Two Indigenous women held a banner with the message: “Yes to life, no to death.” Residents explained that the protests are taking place because the Santa Muerte temple is located near a prison and a school.
The demonstration ended without any violent confrontation, but given the religious zeal of opponents and the rapid growth of the New Religious Movement of Santa Muerte in Guatemala, the controversy is far from over.
Most Holy Death 