British aid agency praises Colombian priests in release of hostage

Published: 2003-12-31

MANCHESTER, England (CNS) -- A British Catholic aid agency praised the church negotiators who helped secure the release of a British citizen held hostage in Colombia. Britain's Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, known as CAFOD, said in a press release that the skill and patience of the church negotiators, Msgr. Hector Fabio Henao and Father Dario Echeverri, caused the release of Mark Henderson, 32, and four Israeli tourists. Msgr. Henao is director of Caritas Colombia, which receives funding from CAFOD. "We hope that the release of these hostages opens the way for broader talks that eventually secure a just peace for the Colombian people, who have been the main victims of this conflict for almost 40 years," said Francis McDonagh, Colombian program officer for CAFOD. Henderson, a television producer, was among eight tourists kidnapped by the National Liberation Army on Sept. 12 while trekking the 2,500-year-old Lost City Indian ruins. He was released Dec. 22. Three other hostages were released in early November. Upon returning to Britain Dec. 24, Henderson said he wanted to thank the church workers. Without their help, he would not have been released, he said.

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