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	Mexican Cardinal Complains of Threats San Francisco Chronicle October 9, 2007 http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/09/international/i180809D12.DTL&hw=catholic&sn=007&sc=595 (10-09) 18:08 PDT MEXICO CITY, Mexico (AP) -- Mexico's top Roman Catholic cardinal, who is accused in a U.S. lawsuit of protecting an alleged pedophile priest, said he has received threats and will ask the government additional security. Norberto Rivera said he feels "always at risk" in an interview broadcast by the Televisa network, after several protesters kicked, pounded and reportedly spat at his car outside Mexico City's cathedral after his weekly Mass. It was unclear why the protesters attacked the car, and Rivera has not said who is behind death threats against him. Mexico City Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said Tuesday he had instructed his security secretary, Joel Ortega, to help. But Church officials have suggested that Sunday's confrontation may have involved supporters of Ebrard's Democratic Revolution Party, which party officials deny. "We can't tolerate this kind of chaos at the cathedral," Rivera said, "where today they hit me and tomorrow they shoot at me." Rivera seemed to suggest he wanted help from federal authorities, and it was unclear if he would accept the offer from the capital's leftist government, which has accused him of interfering in politics by organizing opposition to a new city law legalizing abortion in the first trimester. Mexican law prohibits clerics from taking an active role in politics. Rivera has been accused in connection with a lawsuit of protecting a priest accused of molesting young boys in the U.S. and Mexico. Rivera says he was unaware of child molestation allegations against accused priest Nicolas Aguilar. Rivera's spokesman, Hugo Valdemar, was not available Tuesday to respond to questions.
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