El Salvador archbishop praises nation’s president for ‘steps towards democracy’

June 09, 2010

One year after Mauricio Funes assumed office as president of El Salvador, the nation’s leading prelate has lauded him for taking “significant steps” to foster democracy. “Beyond the partisan differences, progress has been made democratically,” said Archbishop José Luis Escobar Alas of San Salvador. “Continue working in this democratic line,” he advised, “to ensure the good of all before the good of the parties.”

In March, President Funes apologized for the 1980 murder of Archbishop Oscar Romero. The archbishop’s assassins “unfortunately acted with the protection, collaboration or participation of state agents,” he said. “These illegal armed groups terrorized the civilian population during those dark years, leaving behind thousands of victims.”

 

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Further information:

• Catholic Church pleased with Funes' “important steps towards democracy” (Fides)