A report released on religious freedom violations in Mexico by Christian Solidarity Worldwide reveals that more Roman Catholic priests and lay leaders were killed in Mexico in 2014 than in any other country in the world.  (Christian leaders from other denominations face similar threats from criminal groups.) Religious freedom violations taking place on a regular basis across Mexico are exacerbated by inaction by the state and federal governments to proactively uphold religious freedom, or hold those responsible for criminal acts in the name of religion to account. Also the rise of powerful criminal groups who consider churches an attractive target for extortion and fronts for money laundering in the country has had a chilling effect on religious freedom. Religious intolerance is particularly high in the states of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Hidalgo, Puebla and Guerrero