Mexicans who help build Trump wall are 'traitors,' Catholic Church says

U.S. worker builds a section of the U.S.-Mexico border wall at Sunland Park, opposite Ciudad Juarez, on Nov. 9, 2016. (Reuters)

In a provocative editorial, the Catholic Archdiocese of Mexico said on Sunday that Mexicans who help build U.S. President Donald Trump's planned border wall would be acting immorally and should be deemed traitors.

"What is most surprising is the timidity of the Mexican government's economic authorities, who have not moved firmly against these companies" aiming to profit from the wall, the publication said.

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The editorial was titled "Treason against the Homeland."

The Archdiocese published a similar editorial just a month ago, turning up the heat on a simmering dispute over the project. The latest editorial accused the government of responding "tepidly" to those eyeing the project for business and said the barrier would only feed prejudice and discrimination.

"In practice, signing up for a project that is a serious affront to dignity is shooting yourself in the foot," it wrote.

Mexican cement maker Cemex and Grupo Cementos de Chihuahua have signaled readiness to work on the project or take part in it supplying cement, paint, lighting and other materials.

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A spokesman for the Archdiocese, which centers on Mexico City and is presided over by the country's foremost Roman Catholic cleric, Cardinal Norberto Rivera, told Reuters the editorial represented the views of the diocese.

Trump says he wants to build the wall to stop illegal immigrants from crossing the U.S. southern border. He has pledged Mexico will pay for the wall, which the Mexican government adamantly says it will not do.

Reuters and AP contrinuted to this report.