_WORLD WATCH______________________________
________________Venezuela_______________
Church bombed
Motivation behind attack is unclear
A bomb exploded inside a church in Venezuela’s capital on July 25. The target of the attack, San Francisco Church, is located across the street from the National Capitol, the meeting place of the National Assembly. The small explosive damaged a confessional, but no one was seriously injured.
The explosion occurred on the day Caracas was celebrating the 434th anniversary of its foundation. Venezuela’s Catholics condemned the terrorist effort, and noted that threats had been received at several other local parishes. Cardinal Ignacio Velasco ordered the city’s cathedral and six other major parish churches to be closed for three days “as a sign of protest against these displays of vandalism.” The cardinal also called for prayers to be offered up to halt the incidents.
The country’s bishops have been vocal critics of leftist President Hugo Chavez for his failure to curb crime and his imposition of restraints on democracy. Chavez has responded by calling the bishops “devils” and offering other rejoinders. It is not clear whether these political disputes had any bearing on the bombing.
Back to Catholic World Report October 2001 Table of Contents