Providence: Venezuela’s Never-Ending Crisis: Between Repression and Hope

" Venezuela’s Never-Ending Crisis: Between Repression and Hope"
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy
27 July 2018
Originally published: https://providencemag.com/2018/07/venezuela-never-ending-crisis-repression-hope-church/

The political and socio-economic crisis in Venezuela continues: a new wave of protests organized by labor unions took place in mid-July, while President Nicolas Maduro shows no signs of desiring to leave power. The Venezuelan government continues to look for new targets it can blame for the country’s woes. Disturbingly, the Venezuelan church has become the latest.

Picking Fights
Unlike in Nicaragua, where the church has tried to maintain a sense of impartiality in order to be a successful third-party mediator between the Daniel Ortega regime and opposition movements, the years-long economic crisis in Venezuela, combined with growing discontent against the Maduro regime, may have finished alienating whatever sense of neutrality the Venezuelan clergy could attempt to maintain.

For example, in 2017, Monsignor Diego Padrón, former president of Venezuela’s Episcopal Conference (CEV), critiqued the creation of the Constituent National Assembly (ANC), a controversial legislative body created by the regime to replace the opposition-controlled National Assembly. He stated that the government resembled “a military, socialist, Marxist and communist dictatorship,” adding that there is no longer a conflict between right-leaning versus left-leaning ideologies in the country, but rather “a struggle between the government that has become a dictatorship and a population that wants freedom.” Additionally, as El Independiente explains, the CEV has released statements condemning government-sponsored violence, including extrajudicial killings. In fact, a CEV press release on July 11 clearly states that “the principal party responsible for the crisis that we are witnessing is the national government, as it placed its political project above any other issue, even humanitarian affairs.”

Moreover, Bishop Victor Hugo Basabe of Yaracuy state held a mass on January 14 in which he prayed to free Venezuela “of the pest that is corruption that drove the country to moral, economic and social ruin.” That same day, Archbishop Antonio Lopez Medina from Lara state begged heaven to free Venezuela of hunger and corruption.

President Maduro did not like this.

In remarks made to the ANC, the Venezuelan head of state declared that the “so-called priests of the Catholic Church, the bishops [have] evil, poison, hate, perversity,” and they are, according to the president, calling for a civil war. Additionally, he called for official inquiries to look into whether the aforementioned statements qualify as “hate crimes, that seek to promote confrontations between Venezuelans.” The president then declared that Venezuelans are Christians and no longer need “intermediaries…least of all these devils in liturgical garments.”

Ongoing Attempts to Mediate
In spite of verbal clashes between Caracas and certain church members, the latter are still optimistic about restoring peace. In early July, Monsignor Jose Luis Azuaje, CEV president, called for greater maturity and responsibility, stating that “the politician, the entrepreneur, the military officer, social leaders, everyone has to be responsible for his actions.” He also said that the church will never say no to dialogue in order to prevent further violence. Similarly, the Vatican has also repeatedly called for talks in the country.

At this point, even the most optimistic person must recognize that further negotiation in the South American country seems pointless, as the Venezuelan regime has not demonstrated its willingness to carry out a transition of power. If anything, the current regime is attempting to secure its control even more, as exemplified by the creation of the controversial ANC in 2017, and the May 2018 elections, which (unsurprisingly) President Maduro won. The efforts by the CEV and Vatican to maintain dialogue are commendable but unlikely to bear fruit.

Final Thoughts
It is hard to imagine how things could get worse in Venezuela than they already are. In its paranoia and desire to stay in power, the government is cracking down on its own armed forces. As President Maduro and his allies look for conspiracies everywhere, his regime has imprisoned dozens if not hundreds of military officers and has given promotions to loyal troops. Venezuela is on a dangerous road as it gives the military few reasons to remain neutral in political affairs.

As for the Venezuelan church, it has largely tried to remain impartial in the ongoing crisis, though it seems that even the clergy’s heavenly patience is running out. Normally, picking a fight with the church would be a grave mistake for any government, but Venezuela’s regime is past worrying about it.

Venezuela’s turmoil reminds us of the Book of Job and the challenges and tribulations that the man for whom it was named had to endure. We have yet to see when Venezuela’s aches and suffering will end.
—
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez is an analyst who focuses on geopolitical, military, and cybersecurity issues in the Western Hemisphere. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the author is associated.

Providence: The Church and Nicaragua's Crisis

"The Church and Nicaragua's Crisis"

Wilder Alejandro Sanchez

Providence: A Journal of Christianity and American Foreign Policy

9 July, 2018

Originally published: https://providencemag.com/2018/07/the-church-and-nicaragua-crisis/

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” (Matt. 5:9)

On July 1, Pope Francis prayed and called for peace in various parts of the world, including Nicaragua. While acting as a mediator and protecting protesters from the government forces’ repressive tactics, the church there has had an important role in the Central American nation’s ongoing crisis.

The Violence
Civil unrest started in Nicaragua on April 18 when the government passed (very) unpopular reforms to the country’s Social Security Institute (Instituto Nicaragüense de Seguridad Social, or INSS) that would have cut benefits to elderly pensioners by 5 percent. Protests led by university students erupted over these changes, and in response the government resorted to repressive tactics, like organizing paramilitary forces to fight protesters.

At the time of this writing, according to the local non-governmental organization the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANDPH), there have been 285 deaths related to the protests against President Daniel Ortega’s government. This number is worth stressing as the Central American country has not experienced a wave of violence so extreme since the internal war in the 1970s and 1980s, during which Ortega overthrew the Somoza dynasty in 1979. Those events prompted the United States  to back the infamous counterrevolutionaries known as the Contras in an attempt to overthrow him.

While the social security law was the catalyst for the current violence, the protesters’ demands have increased to include regime change due to the head of state’s perpetuation in power. President Ortega returned to power in 2007 and was then re-elected in 2011 and 2016. Moreover, during the last election First Lady Rosario Murillo ran as her spouse’s running mate, so she is now (a very unpopular) vice president.

The author can personally attest to the protesters’ sentiment, at least regarding the Nicaraguan community in Washington, DC. Case in point, the Inter-American Dialogue, a Latin America-focused think tank in DC, held an event on June 4 about the country’s situation. The attendees carried Nicaraguan flags and during the question-and-answer section constantly talked about the impending end of the Ortega-Murillo regime: “de que se van, se van” (“they will leave yes or yes”) was mentioned more than once.

The Role of the Church
At a time when the behavior of the government and some of its forces disgusts the Nicaraguan population, the church is one of the remaining institutions that still enjoys popular support and legitimacy. Thus, the Nicaraguan church has attempted to utilize this credibility to find a peaceful solution to this crisis.
An early attempt occurred on April 28. When the protests were heating up, the church organized a massive peaceful protest in the streets of Managua. Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes even held a mass in the capital city’s cathedral. A similar peaceful demonstration took place in Matagalpa with Monsignor Rolando Álvarez at the helm.

Nevertheless, the protests and violence persisted, so the church switched tactics. In late April, Nicaragua’s Episcopal Council (Conferencia Episcopal de Nicaragua, or CEN) offered to act as a mediator between the government and the protesters. President Ortega accepted, reportedly stating in a letter that “we are grateful in name of the Nicaraguan families and the government for [the CEN’s] participation as mediators and witnesses to these important developments in Nicaragua.”

In spite of these meetings, the situation has unfortunately not improved as the violence continues. The general perception is that the Ortega regime wants to remain in power and is using the mediation to stall for time while using repressive and violent tactics to intimidate the population into submission. For example, a June 23 CEN press release urged President Ortega to respond to a request CEN presented to him on June 7 regarding early elections in 2019 to appease the protesters. The Nicaraguan leader has flip-flopped about this possibility.

Still, the Nicaraguan church continues its attempts to promote peace. The Nicaraguan media has reported that the aforementioned Cardinal Brenes and Monsignor Alvarez met with Pope Francis in the Vatican at the end of June, and the CEN remains committed to dialogue. The CEN is also involved in monitoring the release of protesters who were imprisoned.

Furthermore, there is footage of priests attending the protests and walking in front of the protesters to dissuade the police from violent, repressive tactics. For a religious nation, a robe-wearing priest is a very powerful image. But this is a dangerous path because it may erode the church’s current image of neutrality, and some individuals may be willing to physically attack the clergy—there have already been incidents of masked gunmen threatening priests at gunpoint.

It remains to be seen how successful the church will be as a mediator in Nicaragua, but there have been some noteworthy precedents in the region. For example, a war between Argentina and Chile almost occurred in 1978—a border dispute known as the Beagle Conflict—which was thankfully averted due to Vatican mediation (a peace treaty was signed in 1984). On the other hand, the church has called for peace and dialogue in Venezuela with little success.

Final Thoughts
Much has been written about the importance of the separation between church and state. However, there are times when the former should be involved in the affairs of the latter, as the church has the moral responsibility to stop unjust violence. For example, the Bible verse at the beginning of this essay highlights biblical support for peacemakers.

The church has pursued peacemaking in Nicaragua while in the past months protests have escalated and the Ortega government resorts to violence rather than sincere negotiation. In this crisis, Nicaragua’s Episcopal Council has emerged as a consequential actor, and hopefully its peacemaking activities will prove successful.

—
Wilder Alejandro Sanchez is an analyst who focuses on geopolitical, military, and cybersecurity issues in the Western Hemisphere. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect those of any institutions with which the author is associated.

Blouin Beat: World - Pope to visit Latin America in 2015 amid joy, tensions

"Pope to visit Latin America in 2015 amid joy, tensions"
W. Alejandro Sanchez
Blouin Beat: World
February 9, 2015
Originally publihsed: http://blogs.blouinnews.com/blouinbeatworld/2015/02/09/pope-to-visit-latin-america-in-2015-amid-joy-tensions/ 

As the first ever pontiff from Latin America, Pope Francis of Argentina is expected to make frequent visits to the region in the coming years. Given recent developments, this hypothesis will become a reality.

Pope Francis recently finished a tour of Sri Lanka and the Philippines, where he was enthusiastically received in Colombo and Manila by millions of followers. Now, the Vatican has confirmed that he will visit three Latin American countries this year: Bolivia, Ecuador and Paraguay, though it is unclear when this trip will take place. According to the Catholic News Agency, which first broke the story, the pontiff is expected to visit the U.S. (namely Washington D.C., Philadelphia and New York) for a week in late September of this year. It would make sense that he would take advantage of already being in the Western Hemisphere and continue his tour south. (Similarly, it is expected that he will visit his native Argentina as well as Chile and Uruguaysometime in 2016).

Given that Latin America is one of the last bastions of ardent Catholicism in the world, it’s no surprise that this Pope, a Latin American himself, will want to tour the region to reinvigorate the Catholic Church.

With that said, it is worth noting one country that has not been mentioned (so far) in the pontiff’s schedule: El Salvador. On Tuesday, February 3, Pope Francis approved the beatification of the late Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero from El Salvador. Romero was murdered in March 1980 by a death squad while celebrating a mass; his assassination is regarded as the opening act of the Central American country’s civil war, which lasted until 1992 and killed around 75,000 individuals. (Decades later, no one has been prosecuted for Romero’s murder).

There has been a broad support, not just in El Salvador but also internationally, for Romero to become a martyr due to his acts of charity while he was alive and his iconic death. Moreover, Pope Francis is known for supporting Romero’s beatification. According to the Catholic News Agency, on February 3 Pope Francis and Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, had a meeting during which the pontiff “authorized the promulgation of decrees recognizing the martyrdom of [Romero], paving the way for his beatification, as well as the martyrdom of three priests in Peru.”

Given this historical decision, it is odd that Pope Francis has chosen not to visit El Salvador this year. Nevertheless, it is worth stressing that a date for the ceremony that will make Archbishop Romero a martyr has yet to be announced, meaning it is conceivable that the pontiff could make a brief stopover in El Salvador once the logistics of the ceremony are announced.

On the other hand, while a visit to Central America by Pope Francis has yet to be determined, the Bolivian government is pleased that the pontiff will visit the land-locked South American state this year. Bolivian President Evo Morales, who was recently re-elected for a new presidential term, will certainly utilize the Pope’s visit to increase morale among his 10 million compatriots, given that Bolivia’s economy will likely suffer this year in the wake of falling international oil prices and declining mineral exports.

Finally, one issue about the Pope’s upcoming visit to Bolivia deserves to be highlighted: neighboring Chile does not seem to be pleased with the visit. Bolivia and Chile have been at odds for over a century, since the 19th century War of the Pacific, in which Chile (with military support from the British Empire) annexed Bolivia’s coastal territories. To this day, Bolivia demands sea access, and to this end the Bolivian government has taken Chile to the International Court of Justice. Within this context, former Chilean President Eduardo Frei (1994-2000) requested that the Bolivian government not “politicize” the visit or raise the Bolivian-Chilean dispute with the pontiff. In response, President Morales declared that Pope Francis was coming to Bolivia solely for religious, not political, motives. The Bolivian head of state also added, “if Chile is afraid, that is their problem.”

Without a doubt, a papal visit is reason for the many Catholic nations in the Western Hemisphere to rejoice. Nevertheless, Latin American domestic politics as well as regional geopolitics are complex matters and are likely to rise to the surface. Even a visit by a pontiff who wants global peace and harmony can easily be politicized.

VOXXI: Mexico: Another priest murdered in Guerrero

"Mexico: Another Priest Murdered in Guerrero"
W. Alejandro Sanchez
VOXXI
December 30, 2014
Originally published: http://voxxi.com/2014/12/mexico-priest-murdered-guerrero/

As Mexican society continues to be in upheaval due to the missing 43 students, a new victim highlights how no one, regardless of their occupation, is safe from violence in the country. The body of Father Gregorio López Gorostieta, a Catholic priest, was found this past Christmas, out of all days, four days after he disappeared.

In spite of the arrest of high-profile cartel leaders violence continues to be rampant, and the country ends 2014 with the sad reminder that neither student uniforms nor clerical clothing are effective deterrents against narco violence.

Religious Targets

Father López Gorostieta, also known as “El Padre Goyo” was kidnapped on Sunday, December 21, from the “La Anunciación” seminary, where he taught. The facility is located in Ciudad Altamirano, in Guerrero (south of Mexico), the same state where 43 students went missing and are generally presumed dead (the remains of one have been identified).

It’s known that Father López Gorostieta arrived to the seminar around 11:30 on Sunday night after celebrating mass and helping with a communal party to collect donations for the seminary. Unknown individuals then took the priest from “La Anunciación,” forced him into his van and drove away. His body was found on Christmas day.

It’s believed that the Guerreros Unidos cartel, which operates in the area, may be behind this heinous act. Father Gregorio López Jerónimo, who manages the church in Apatzingán, also in Guerrero, has declared that López Gorostieta was murdered because he spoke out against this particular cartel, which is believed of having abducted the aforementioned 43 students.

The murder of yet another priest has caused the Catholic Church in Mexico to protest and demand government action. In a press release, the country’s bishops promptly stated, “Enough! We do not want more blood. We do not want more deaths. We do not more disappeared.”

While well intentioned, this statement will certainly not bring about an end to violence. Even more, the aforementioned Father López Jerónimo declared that the leaders of the Mexican church must “take more decisive actions,” as “they have been prudent rather than brave” when it comes to openly critiquing the murder of “Father Goyo.”

This is not the sole case this year of a murdered priest in Guerrero. This past September, the body of Father José Ascención Acuña Osorio, the priest at the San Miguel Totolapan church, was found floating in the Balsas River. He was kidnapped on the afternoon of September 21 by two unknown individuals who forced him into a taxi.

Authorities declared that the motive for the kidnapping was not robbery as the body had signs of torture, but it is unclear who was responsible.

Furthermore, foreign priests have also been targeted: the body of the Ugandan Father John Ssenyondo was found in a mass grave this past October (he went missing in April). Father Ssenyondo had spent six years working as a missionary in Mexico, and he had just celebrated mass in a village by Nejapa, in Guerrero, when he was abducted. Like with the previous examples, the murderers are thought to be narcos but no arrests have been made so far.

The aforementioned examples do not constitute the full list of members of the clergy that have been killed in Guerrero, much less in all of Mexico, in recent years.

Violence

Sadly, Latin American internal conflicts dating back to the ideological wars throughout the Cold War are known for gross human rights violations.

Case in point, the civil war in El Salvador started with the 1980 assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. That conflict is also known for the massacre of six Jesuits priests, a housekeeper and her daughter, in the University of Central America in 1989.

Another important, and tragic, example is Peru; the country experienced a bloody civil war throughout the 1980s until the early 1990s, which pinned government forces against two insurgent movements, the Shining Path and the MRTA. An important development happened in November: three priests, two Polish and one Italian, which were assassinated by the Shining Path in 1991 will become martyrs. It is expected that Pope Francis will travel to Peru in 2015 to carry out the ceremony.

While it is positive that Archbishop Romero in El Salvador and the three priests in Peru will rightfully be beatified, it is tragic that a trademark of Latin American internal conflicts is their disrespect for non-combatants, particularly members of the clergy.

As for Mexico, the three recently murdered priests highlight the violence that the country continues to experience, particularly in the state of Guerrero. If a couple of years ago the state of Michoacán was regarded as the most violent state of the country, Guerrero arguably holds this title nowadays.

VOXXI: Pope pushes for beatification of Archbishop Romero

 "Pope pushes for beatification of Archbishop Romero"
W. Alejandro Sanchez
VOXXI
August 22, 2014
Originally published: http://voxxi.com/2014/08/22/pope-beatification-archbishop-romero/

 Pope Francis has reached a milestone decision regarding El Salvador’s late Archbishop Oscar Romero. The head of the Catholic Church has “unblocked” Romero’s beatification process, a necessary prelude to full sainthood.

This is good news for supporters of the late Romero, not only from his homeland but also throughout Latin America. Hopefully, when he officially becomes “Saint Romero” the late priest’s image may finally become less commercialized and politicized in El Salvador.

Brief facts

Archbishop Romero was murdered on March 24, 1980, while he held a mass in the ‘La Divina Providencia’ Hospital, in El Salvador’s capital. Nobody has ever been convicted of his murder. Nevertheless, it is generally believed that a sniper shot Romero following orders from the Salvadoran Army officer Roberto D’Aubuisson, who eventually founded the powerful political party ARENA.

One of Romero’s most memorable acts was an open letter to then-U.S. President Jimmy Carter. In it, Romero warned that U.S. support for the Salvadoran government, known for its human rights abuses, would only “sharpen the injustice and repression against the organizations of the people which repeatedly have been struggling to gain respect for their fundamental human rights.” The plea proved to be useless and ironic, it was published on February 17, 1980, weeks before Romero died.

His murder is regarded as the opening act of the country’s civil war which lasted until 1992. Over 70,000 people are estimated to have died.

In a historical move, then-president, Mauricio Funes apologized for the crime in 2010. He explained that Romero was a victim of death squads “who unfortunately acted with the protection, collaboration or participation of state agents.” Gaspar Romero, the archbishop’s brother, thanked the president in the name of the Romero family.

Other Salvadoran administrations have supported Romero’s canonization, including current President Salvador Sanchez Ceren. But in spite of the general support among the government and population for Romero’s canonization, the process, which began in 1994, has only gained speed in recent years. One major reason for the Church’s apparent reluctance to support the process is that there were “concerns of his Marxist ideas.”

A Latin Pope for a Latin Saint

Pope Francis is the Catholic Church’s first Latin American pope. Since his election in March 2013, he has reached out to Catholics across the world. Hence, supporting Romero’s beatification is logical in order to strengthen support for the church in the Americas. Flying back from South Korea, Pope Francis stated, “for me Romero is a man of God.”

As early as 2013 there were reports that the Vatican was revisiting Romero’s case.

In a July 26, 2013 interview by the Vatican Insider with Gerhard Ludwig Muller, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the church official praised Romero, describing him as “a great witness of the faith and a man who was thirsty for social justice.” Furthermore, Cardinal Muller explained that “the process for the doctrinal ‘nihil obstat’ [objections] carried on as normal and sped up significantly during Benedict XVI’s pontificate… under Francis’ pontificate, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints is moving the process along even faster.”

The commercialization of a martyr

While Romero is a symbol of peace and understanding, his image and legacy has been routinely utilized inEl Salvador for other goals. Back in 2010, Bishop Gregorio Rosa Chavez declared that Romero’s legacy “has been politicized especially by revolutionary groups [i.e. political movements].” More recently, in 2013 Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas declared that the use of Romero’s image by political parties is “unfair” as “he was not a political leader.”

Former President Funes himself declared that Romero was his “mentor” when he ran for president in 2009. Meanwhile, current President Sanchez Ceren could not help combining Pope Francis’ decision with his presidential objectives as he stated that “we are sure confident that in this land where … Romero lived, will also be blessed and we will move forward in important areas like security and economic growth.”

Moreover, a 2011 report in the Salvadoran daily La Pagina discussed businesses and arguably illegal non-profits entities, utilizing Romero’s image for profit. The report stressed that no person or entity (i.e. the church) has a copyright over Romero’s image, so this can be easily exploited for commercial gain. For example, during the anniversaries of Romero’s birth and murder, vendors make a profit selling t-shirts, key chains, calendars and scapulars with his image.

It is tragic, but unsurprising that the image and legacy of a just person like the late Archbishop Romero has been politicized and commercialized. His eventual official ascendancy to sainthood (he is popularly known as “Saint Romero of the Americas”) will likely exploit his legacy even more for personal gain rather than the general good.

With that said, Pope Francis’ decision is a positive move, not just to strengthen Church-Latin America relations, but also to award Romero the title he undoubtedly deserves.

VOXXI: El Salvador arrests Spanish Priest accused of aiding Mara gang

"El Salvador arrests Spanish Priest accused of aiding Mara gang"
W. Alejandro Sanchez
VOXXI
August 5, 2014
Originally published: http://voxxi.com/2014/08/05/salvador-arrests-antonio-rodriguez-tercero/

Local authorities arrested a Spanish priest in El Salvador last week after accusing him of aiding the dreaded gangs known as Maras. Father Antonio Rodriguez Tercero has stated that he only carries out charity work to support gang members who are trying to reintegrate into society.

He was freed on Monday, August 4, though his judicial challenges are far from over.

15 Years in El Salvador

The 38-year old priest, who is also known as “Father Toño,” comes from the Daimiel municipality in Spain’s Ciudad Real province and has lived in El Salvador for 15 years.

In an interview with the Spanish daily El País, Father Rodriguez explained that he came to Central America after learning about the 1980 assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the 1989 massacre of several Jesuit priests.

These events inspired him to go to El Salvador to work for peace and address social inequality (For a further discussion of the latter crime, see my September 2013 commentary).

Father Rodriguez’s church is located in Mejicanos, a municipality close to San Salvador. One of the social programs he carries out is helping former gang members reintegrate themselves into society.

The Facts As We Know Them

The office of El Salvador’s Attorney General has accused Father Rodriguez of smuggling illicit objects, such as mobile phones, into prisons. They also argue that the priest has illicit associations with gang members like Carlos Ernesto Mojica Lechuga, a well-known Barrio 18 leader who is currently in prison.

As evidence of these connections, one of the alleged phones was used to coordinate an extortion operation carried out by Barrio 18 members in Santa Ana.

The Salvadoran police force has monitored over 100 of Father Rodriguez’s phone calls, which seem to be the cornerstone of the prosecutors’ accusations. “Rodriguez did everything that Mojica Lechuga ordered him to do,” a Salvadoran prosecutor has declared.

On July 29, authorities arrested the Spanish priest in his house in Mejicanos. The detention was part of a raid in which police forces apprehended 127 individuals throughout the country, charging them with different crimes. Father Rodriguez was held in the “División Central de Investigaciones,” and it was here that Spanish diplomats visited the priest.

Father Rodriguez’ arrest prompted social demonstrations in his native country. On August 3, around three hundred people protested in Daimiel, demanding his release. Daimiel’s mayor, as well as a former gang member who now lives in Spain, spoke in favor of the incarcerated priest.

Likewise, El Salvador’s Catholic Church has declared its support for Father Rodriguez.

El Salvador’s Archbishop Jose Luis Escobar Alas explained to the press that it is important “to recognize all the good work Father Rodriguez has done […] on behalf of the poor via his church’s social program.”

Out Of Prison, Not Out Of Trouble

The Salvadoran media reported that Father Rodriguez’ hearing ended at 3 AM on August 4. While the prosecution stressed his ties with leaders of the maras, a judge granted him conditional liberty.

The website ElSalvador.com has a video of Father Rodriguez after he was released. He appeared to be in good health and explained to the press that “the [judicial] process will continue.”

According to La Prensa Gráfica, Father Rodriguez is not allowed to leave the country or have associations with any gang members, and he must return to court whenever needed. At the time of this writing, Salvadoran prosecutors have officially charged the Spanish priest though it is unclear if he is still free or if he has been arrested once again.

Political Motivations?

In March 2012, El Salvador’s two major maras––Barrio 18 and Mara Salvatrucha––signed a historic peace agreement with the help of the country’s Catholic Church. Months after the truce came into effect crime, particularly homicides, dropped drastically. Nevertheless, recent reports highlight that gang violence is on the rise once again.

Naturally, the Spanish media has taken an interest in this case. The opening sentence of a July 30 article in El País states that, “El Salvador had a shocking morning,” when the country learned about Rodriguez’ arrest. The article later describes Rodriguez as having been a “heavyweight” in 2012.

A recent article by the Inter Press Service also discusses Father Rodriguez’s role in the peace negotiations, explaining how the Spanish priest initially critiqued the peace agreement but eventually came to support it.

Innocence in El Salvador

Many praise Father Rodriguez for his role to achieve peace between gangs in El Salvador. However, his connections to El Salvador’s Barrio 18 have ultimately landed him in prison. Those following the story still do not know whether the accusations are politically motivated or if in fact Father Rodriguez is actively helping gang members.

The Spanish daily El Día quotes a Salvadoran priest who recently declared that the arrest of Father Rodriguez “is a type of social or political pressure” because of his close relationship with the country’s gangs.

Civic society and religious institutions in El Salvador and in Spain are generally on Father Rodriguez’ side, but their support is not enough to be safe in a country like El Salvador.

Entrevista: LA IGLESIA ARREMETE CONTRA LOS BENEFICIARIOS DE LOS NARCOS

http://bit.ly/cvjuPp
(video en espanol)
Russia Today, estudios en Washington



La agencia EFE comunicó que la Arquidiócesis de México arremetió hoy contra los gobernantes, políticos, policías, empresarios y comunidades religiosas que han sido beneficiados por el crimen organizado y pidió a todos los sectores sumarse a rescatar al país de la violencia.

"Basta ya de complicidades, basta ya de impunidad, basta ya de una sociedad indiferente y complaciente; basta ya de nuestros analistas políticos, que con un sentido derrotista abogan por la legalización de las drogas y por hacer público el negocio", clamó la Iglesia en la editorial de hoy del semanario 'Desde la fe'.

La Arquidiócesis, encabezada por el cardenal Norberto Rivera Carrera, señaló que grandes sectores de la sociedad mexicana están involucrados con el “poder corruptor del narcotráfico y la delincuencia".

"Podemos comenzar por los políticos de gran altura -sin duda alguna desde gobernadores de distintos Estados hasta corporaciones policíacas enteras-, pasando por militares y policías federales", señaló el medio de difusión de la Iglesia.

También incluyó a los "ambientes empresariales, periodistas y medios de comunicación y, desafortunadamente, algunos ambientes religiosos".

Afirmó que personas de todos los niveles hacen circular el dinero del narcotráfico, tanto en las grandes ciudades como en las poblaciones más aisladas.

Admitió que "para vergüenza de algunas comunidades católicas, hay sospechas de que benefactores coludidos con el narcotráfico han ayudado con dinero, del más sucio y sanguinario negocio, en la construcción de algunas capillas, lo cual resulta inmoral y doblemente condenable, y nada justifica que se pueda aceptar esta situación".

El editorial advierte que es imposible que se pretenda justificar la matanza 'inmisericorde' de tantas personas, en especial jóvenes, por parte de delincuentes que se mueven impunemente en todo el país.

Recordó las palabras del obispo de Ciudad Juárez, Renato Ascencio, quien afirmó que "de nada sirve la presencia del Presidente ni las promesas del Gobernador, ya no queremos más reuniones de alto nivel, sino resultados concretos, programas eficaces".

Señaló que apenas pronunciadas estas palabras un grupo armado tiroteó un transporte de empleados, mujeres casi todas, que se dirigían a sus trabajos y asesinó a varias de ellas.

La Iglesia afirmó que todo lo que ocurre quedará en la conciencia de los malos gobernantes, de empresarios deshonestos y en la conciencia de muchos ciudadanos que han buscado el dinero fácil. Censuró también a las comunidades que justifican al narcotráfico con el pretexto de que son benefactores del pueblo. Finalmente, afirmó que la violencia y los crímenes quedarán en la conciencia de los adictos mexicanos y estadounidenses que son la "causa principal de esta barbarie".

Insistió en que todos somos responsables y que es hora de comprometerse para erradicar de raíz este cáncer social que "amenaza destruirnos".

Conminó a algunas figuras a dejar de hablar superficialmente de "Cómo legalizar las drogas" y pidió el compromiso de todos para "rescatar a los jóvenes, a las comunidades y el futuro del país".