Macrolimosna

"Macrolimosna" is the name utilized by the Mexican press to the 90 million peso donation (roughly 8 million U.S. dollars) to the Catholic Church by Catholic Jalisco governor Emilio González Márquez in 2008.

The donation was to support the building of a sanctuary to honor the Cristero War fighters. Local congresspeople requested the Federal Superior Audit body to determine if the funds had originated from the federation, which would amount to a federal crime [ [http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2008/05/08/index.php?section=estados&article=038n2est "El gobernador de Jalisco enfrentaría juicio político por peculado"] ] . The Secretary of the Interior's office declared itself incapable of auditing the funds [ [http://www.frontera.info/EdicionEnLinea/Notas/Nacional/15052008/304413.aspx Es Segob incompetente para investigar a gobernador de Jalisco] ] . Both the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Jalisco are members of the right wing National Action Party.

After public protests, in a private meeting with the cardinal of Guadalajara, Juan Sandoval Íñiguez the governor announced an additional donation of 15 million pesos (roughly 1.3 million dollars) to another Catholic charity organization. He excused the "macrolimosna" arguing that he was promoting "religious tourism" that would contribute to the economy of the state. He also sent a message to his critics "Que chinguen a su madre" (the English equivalent of "Fuck you"). The state's Human Rights Commissioner advised the Governor to apologize [ [http://www.jornada.unam.mx/ultimas/2008/06/11/jalisco-pide-cedh-a-gonzalez-marquez-se-disculpe-por-mentada El gobernador de Jalisco debe disculparse por mentada de madre, recomienda CEDH] ] . This happened after the Jalisco Human Rights Commission received 403 complaints from citizens in the state. To this Gonzalez responded that he doesn't need to be told what to do [ [http://estadis.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/68747.html Molesta a Emilio recomendación por mentada] ] .

After several public protests, the Cardinal Sandoval advised the Committee pro-construction of the Cristero Sanctuary to return the 60 millions. Cardinal Sandoval called the critics of the "macrolimosna" "radicals" [ [http://www.milenio.com/guadalajara/milenio/nota.asp?id=628500 “Radicales” echaron abajo el donativo: Pérez Peláez] ] .

On June 19, the committee resolved to return the funds. The committee declared that the purpose of the funds was going to be applied to the construction of a hospital, a shelter for visitors and a nursing school, contradicting the Governor's "religious tourism" allegations [ [http://www.oem.com.mx/eloccidental/notas/n739722.htm Regresarán "macrolimosna" en Guadalajara el lunes] ] .

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