In Latin America, Catholics down, church's credibility up, poll says

Published: 2005-06-23

LIMA, Peru (CNS) -- The number of Catholics in the world's most Catholic region has dropped off slightly, but the church's credibility in Latin America remains high among people of all faiths, according to a survey by the Chilean polling firm Latinobarometro. The survey said that 71 percent of South Americans consider themselves Catholic, down from 80 percent in 1995, while the percentage who consider themselves evangelical or Protestant rose from 3 percent to 13 percent in the same period. In a region buffeted by corruption scandals, economic crises and social unrest, many people view presidents, legislatures and political parties with distrust. The church, however, enjoys the confidence of 73 percent of Latin Americans. Because of that credibility, church leaders are often called in to mediate political and social conflicts. The Bolivian bishops' conference played a key role in bringing protesters and government officials to the negotiating table during the recent upheaval that led to the resignation of President Carlos Mesa and his replacement by the head of the Supreme Court, Eduardo Rodriguez. In Peru, Sacred Heart Father Gaston Garatea, who heads the country's national antipoverty task force, recently helped calm a conflict between community organizations and a mining company in the highlands of southern Peru.

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