Spanish priests denounce Irish priest's role in Basque peace talks

Published: 2006-04-20

MADRID, Spain (CNS) -- Two Spanish priests who have been threatened by the Basque separatist group ETA have denounced a prominent Irish priest's role in the regional peace process. The Madrid daily ABC quoted Jesuit Father Antonio Beristain and Father Jaime Larrinaga as calling on the Spanish bishops to publicly denounce mediation efforts by Father Alex Reid, who played a key role in the Irish peace process beginning in the 1980s. The paper said April 19 that Basque peace negotiations were "causing tensions in the heart of the Basque (Catholic) church." Father Reid said he has been spending time in Spain over the last four years in an effort to bring representatives of ETA and the Spanish government to the negotiating table. ETA, which is classified by the United States and the European Union as a terrorist organization, has been blamed for more than 800 deaths in the past four decades as it fought for independence for the Basque region of northern Spain and southwestern France. The group declared a cease-fire March 24 and must now negotiate a peace accord with the Spanish government.

Copyright (c) 2006 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 The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in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 .