Peruvian archbishop defends commission against official's criticism

Published: 2007-01-11

LIMA, PERU (CNS) -- The president of the Peruvian bishops' Social Action Commission strongly reaffirmed the church's defense of life and human rights in response to criticism from Peruvian Vice President Luis Giampietri. Archbishop Pedro Barreto Jimeno of Huancayo, president of the commission known by its Spanish acronym CEAS, said, "For more than 40 years, CEAS has promoted a human rights ministry in light of the social doctrine of the church to foster justice, democracy, development and peace in Peru. "Throughout these years, the Catholic Church has condemned violent acts by armed groups that brought terror and death to our brothers and sisters," Archbishop Barreto said in a statement issued Jan. 5. "But the church has also condemned violent acts by government agents who, in violation of the law, committed crimes against the life and integrity of vulnerable persons, as in the case of the prison inmates." The day before the bishop's statement was released, the Lima daily newspaper Correo reported that Giampietri had accused former CEAS lawyers of defending terrorists.

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