SHARP REACTION TO ECUADOR'S ARREST OF PRIESTS

Created: 8/23/1976

OCR scan of the original document, errors are possible

Sharp Reaction to Ecuador'b Arrest of Priests

Tha two-day detention last week of seventeen bishops andriests from several LatinC countries sr.." e US by Ecuadorean police has sparked "harp protest throughout Latin America from church authorities, violence by anti-clericals in Chile, and the excommunication of four government officials by tho Chilean church.

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The reasons for holding the church conclave in Riobamba, Ecuador, in the first place, are somewhat murky. Participants assert that the meeting was sponsored by tho Latin American Episcopal Conference (CELAH) and was hosted by the Bishop of Riobamba,

Leonidas Proano.

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the meeting had been problems of the poor;in Latin America, in general, and Indians in the Riobamba area, in particular.

Ecuadorean officials Insist that the meeting was subversive, that the police confiscatedliterature during the raid, and that some of the discussions constituted foreign intervention in internal Ecuadorean affairs.

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These allegations notwithstanding, many Ecuadorean officials are confounded and think somebodyerious mistake. So far, no one has claimed Some rumors in Quito indicate that General Luis Ourtaunchly conservative Catholic may have been active behind the scenes. Another rumor blames landowners of politically conservativea zo Province. Landowners there, suspicious of church efforts to improve the social and economic standing of the local Indians, have longampaign against the "progressive" Bishop Proano, often locally accused ofred.*1

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Whoever ia responsible appears tu have grossly underestimated the domeatlc and internationalartoon, for example, in El Universo, an Ecuadorean newspaper, rench-coated agent seisinglabeled "catechism"roup of prleets. Other local comment has featured protests agalnat human irlghts violations and ridicule of the| |

Internationally, the comments have been much tho same. The Latin American Episcopal Council's secretary-general denounced the action and said, "When tho church apeaks on behalf of human rights and aocial change, it ia not calling for changea of government." Mexican church officials havethe vlolatlona of "human rights" and havo complained that Ecuadorean authorities should not have interferedeligious meeting. Thesehave been echoed by church euthorities in other countries and all church leaders have made an effort to publicisereturn home of the now famous prelates.

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The homecoming of three Chilean bishops, however, resulted in an incident that is going to have more far-reaching consequences. Rightist opponents of Chilean church policy clsshed at the Sartlago airport with supporters of the three churchmen. Chilean policeatood by passively and intervened only after the fighting became general. Their action or inaction has led to local speculation that the government condoned the deiaonetration. Chilean authorities have denied these allegations and are taking aome steps to head off the church.

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examples ofpnysicai violence between politically motivated, polarised elementa in Chile since the early days of the,lunta in

On* result of the airport incident hasove by the church to excommunicate some government officials. Including several agents of the security polios,!for either participating in or permitting the demonstration. The church's official stateuent cast the incidentroader context by declaring that the Ecuadorean government's "arbitrary action, encouraged by friendly governments,anifest act of hostility against thet condemned the controlled Chilean media for false reporting and compared the airport incident tc events under the Allende regime, "when anti-social elements fought with representatives of order."

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Chilean church has been spoilingight with tho government for some time and this incident has brought the trouble to maturation. For several months, church officials have been protesting the arrestopular human-rights lawyer employed by the Vlcarate of Solidarity. The church has argued that the lawyer cannot be held without duo process ana has described the government's charges against him as slander. Chilean bishops, clearly influenced by the case and the "progressive" Vlcarate ofII agreed in June to Increase their opposition to tne government. he mistreatment of priestslerical nature of the government, and agreed to make use of the pulpit and all Catholic orgr.:ileations to criticise, government policies.

wh.it the final outcome of the- Ecuadorean affair will be for the church and the governments involved cannot yet be determined. Certainly, the Ecuadorean government has been embarrassed at least temporarily by the commotion it has caused. There is no doubt also that the incident and its ramifications will add fuel to the simmering conflict between the church and military governments in most of Latin America.

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The Chilean situation could be more aerioua becauae the inoident thereure algn of growing political tenaion. Zncreaalngly overt church opposition to the government will stiffen the reaoivg_ of restleia and potentially store vocal critlca.

Original document.

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