Peruvian cardinal protests call to testify in predecessor's death

Published: 2004-04-22

LIMA, Peru (CNS) -- Cardinal Juan Cipriani Thorne of Lima publicly protested a citation requiring him to testify in an investigation into the death of his predecessor, Archbishop Augusto Vargas Alzamora. Archbishop Vargas died Sept. 4, 2000, at age 78. His health had deteriorated after a stroke; he had been hospitalized for about a month before his death. Cardinal Cipriani and Bishop Luis Bambaren Gastelumendi of Chimbote, former president of the bishops' conference who also was called to testify, were among the last people to visit Archbishop Vargas before he died. The Peruvian Public Ministry investigations were sparked by a claim that Vladimiro Montesinos, the spymaster whose corrupt dealings brought down the government of former President Alberto Fujimori in 2000, had sent someone to poison Archbishop Vargas in such a way that the prelate would appear to have died from natural causes.

Copyright (c) 2004 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .