2 Catholic Pastoral Workers Attacked in Colombia which is Condemned by the UN and Bishops' Conference

Through a statement, the Episcopal Conference of Colombia expressed its rejection of the armed attack suffered at dawn on Sunday by the deacon Fredy Muñoz and the layman Eider Bototo, when they were transported in a church vehicle in Caldono (Cauca). The United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia also condemned the attack in which representatives of the Catholic Church were injured in Caldono.
"Every act of violence in our territories is a call for more commitment on our part. We must not postpone the goal of a reconciled and peaceful Colombia", said Omar Alberto Sánchez Cubillos, Archbishop of Popayán and Vice President of the Bishops' Conference of Colombia (CEC), on the attack on a vehicle where there were two pastoral workers. According to the country's bishops, the incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, July 2, in the territory of the municipality of Caldono (Cauca).
The vehicle carrying Deacon Fredy Muñoz, who will be ordained to the priesthood next month, and his collaborator Eider Bototo, both from the parish of San Lorenzo de Caldono, were attacked by an armed group as they were leaving a religious service in the parish of the village of La Esmeralda. The Archbishop of Popayán described the injuries suffered by the victims of the attack, which fortunately are not serious, as a reflection of those of the entire civil society of Cauca, "where the residents are constantly victims of this armed violence that goes beyond all principles of rationality and respect of international humanitarian law".

“We vehemently reject this attack. This attack accounts for the degradation of the conflict in that territory," said Monsignor Ómar Alberto Sánchez, vice president of the Conference and archbishop of Popayán.

According to the prelate, miraculously the injuries suffered by these members of the church were not critical and both are recovering in a care center.

"What happened is a reflection of the wounds of the entire civil society of Cauca, in which its inhabitants are permanent victims of this armed violence that stems from all principles of rationality and respect for International Humanitarian Law," the letter added.

Finally, the church stated that they will maintain their commitment to serve the parishioners and made a call to stop the violence.

“Despite the situation, Monsignor Ómar Sánchez ratifies the unwavering commitment of the Colombian Catholic Church to the search for reconciliation and peace. Each violent act in our territories demands a greater commitment from us in this purpose; We cannot continue postponing this deep desire," the document points out.
Source - Sistema Integrado de Información


🔵 #Comunicado | La @MisionONUCol condena el atentado en el cual resultaron heridos representantes de la Iglesia Católica @episcopadocol en hechos ocurridos durante la madrugada de hoy en #Caldono, Cauca. ➡️ https://t.co/AH8WjD4pAz pic.twitter.com/S4pnktLHM7— Misión de la ONU en Colombia (@MisionONUCol) July 2, 2023