Catholic Church regains role in Colombian peace process

Published: 2007-12-10

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS) -- The Catholic Church will be the only intermediary in negotiations with Colombian guerrillas for the release of hostages, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe announced Dec. 9. "We consider it prudent to handle the subject solely with the Catholic Church," Uribe said. In late November, Uribe agreed to a demilitarized mediation zone. Two other times the Colombian government has created demilitarized meeting zones: In 1997, a zone led to the guerrillas freeing 60 soldiers, but a zone designated from 1998 to 2002 produced no results after the guerrillas used the area to traffic drugs and hold hostages. Archbishop Luis Castro Quiroga of Tunja, president of the Colombian bishops' conference, told the Colombian daily newspaper El Tiempo that Uribe's granting of a demilitarized zone was "a response to national and international clamor" for moves to facilitate negotiations. Uribe's sudden support for such a zone -- an idea he had long opposed -- came after discussions with Catholic Church leaders and others, including a telephone call from Father Dario Echeverri, secretary of the National Reconciliation Commission.

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