Priest's death highlights divisions in Venezuelan church

Published: 2004-07-16

CARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) -- The death of a prominent priest who supported Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has drawn attention to divisions within the church between supporters and opponents of a government that has repeatedly clashed with the church hierarchy. Father Juan Vives died June 26 at age 80 of lung cancer. The priest, an early proponent of liberation theology, served as president of Caritas in Venezuela and worked tirelessly to help refugees. He later became a staunch supporter of Chavez, who has been harshly criticized by the church hierarchy over his human rights record. Venezuelan bishops blamed the president for the nation's escalating poverty and accused him of ruling in an authoritarian style. Father Vives was such a staunch ally of Chavez that the day after Father Vives' death, the president called for honoring the priest with applause instead of silence. "We can do no less than ... give tribute to this great patriot, this soldier of Christ," Chavez said.

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