Government decries judicial ruling ordering arrest of Colombian archbishop

Bogotá, Colombia, Apr 24, 2007 / 09:33 am

The Minister of the Interior and of Justice in Colombia, Carlos Holguin, has criticized the ruling of an appeals court judge ordering the detention for three days of Archbishop Fabio Betancur of Manizales, saying the ruling does not respect international accords, such as those between the Holy See and Colombia.

The judge’s ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by an ex-seminarian who was expelled from the major seminary in Manizales in 1999 for theft and homosexual conduct.  After being ordained in a Protestant community, he is demanding the archbishop explain the reasons for his expulsion.

“This concerns things that happened at a seminary with a student and therefore it is completely regulated by canon law,” Holguin stated, adding that while “I must respect judicial rulings, I also believe that international treaties must be respected.”

Faithful hold vigil

The rector of the Cathedral Basilica of Manizales, Father Rogelio Valencia, said the presbyteral council of the Archdiocese has organized a five day-long vigil in rejection of the arrest order against Archbishop Betancur.

Father Valencia said a Mass will be celebrated in each parish at 6:30pm as part of the vigil.  At the Cathedral, he said, “we will be in constant prayer and vigil throughout the day, praying for the intentions of our beloved archbishop, who is going to prison unjustly.”