en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en ru en en en en en en en fr es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en en es en en en en en en en en en en en en en en fr en en fr en en en en en nl en en en en en en en en en en en en en de en sv en en de en en en en en de en en it en en en en en en en en en en en en
Some 5.4 million Salvadorans are expected to vote February 28 for municipal and general assembly elections amid one of the most contentious of recent campaign seasons
By La Croix International staff | El Salvador
Catholic and Protestant pastors have, in a hard-hitting joint statement, spoken about the lies and corruption that threaten El Salvador's democracy, ahead of the February 28 elections to the Salvadoran legislature and municipal government.
"We encourage every believer to reason with conviction and by their own criteria, to be in solidarity with and compassionate to all, to work to overcome this dark time, and to encounter each other again as brothers and sisters going forward for the building up of the Christian dream of a reconciled society, with justice and peace," they said in their statement.
The religious leaders of various Christian denominations called on believers "to a calm commitment to the truth and the ideals of democracy, to be compassionate to all and to work to overcome 'this dark time' and to construct a reconciled society with justice and peace."
The statement was issued by 69 priests, pastors and leaders from the Catholic, Lutheran, Anglican and Evangelical churches in El Salvador and signed among others by Catholic Bishop Oswaldo Escobar of Chalatenango, Anglican Bishop David Alvarado, Lutheran Bishop Medardo Gomez and Father Andreu Oliva SJ, rector of University of Central America – the Jesuit university.
They expressed "deep concern for the situation of sin that permeates Salvadoran politics and society in general (and) wish to speak the truth in love to the churches and people in general to warn them against temptations, false doctrines and political idolatries" they said.
"We express our deep disquiet in a dangerous time when churches see themselves exposed to the temptations and bribes of the powerful who seek to silence their prophetic voice … We express our deep sorrow over the practice of lying that has invaded political life and is contrary to the commitment to truth that is morally crucial for personal and public life," they said.
"We express our deep sorrow for the authoritarian and domineering attitudes that contradict Christian teachings and break the democratic rules of government, … we reject the trend to autocratic political leadership as being a theological danger that threatens the common good (and) are concerned about the lack of respect for the rule of law, the non-recognition of the equal importance of the three branches of the State and the replacing of civility with dehumanizing hostility towards opponents" they said.
The leaders encouraged pastors to "speak and act with faith and courage not for political reasons, but because they are disciples of Jesus Christ the Lord. Our urgent need in this time of moral and political crisis is to regain the power to confess our faith, express sorrow, repent and make amends."
Some 5.4 million Salvadorans are expected to vote February 28 for municipal and general assembly elections amid one of the most contentious of recent campaign seasons.
Salvadoran politics have been dominated by two major political parties -- the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) on the right and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN) on the left.
President Nayib Bukele of the center-right GANA party came to power as an outsider candidate, railing against both parties with an anti-corruption, populist message, defeating the FMLN in 2019.
As the youngest Latin American president at age 38, he has been both popular and controversial but critics have called out Bukele's authoritarian behaviour for his battle with journalists, using the army to strictly enforce the COVID-19 quarantine, tough stance against gang violence and prison enforcement measures.
In February 2020 he sparked a constitutional crisis when he sent the military into the legislative chamber to pressure legislators to approve a loan for his security plan.
Recently, his defense minister wanted to revise the Constitution to give the military a more active political role. El Salvador has a long history of political violence when one party ruled and silenced others with violence.
While Bukele won't be on the ballot in the country's upcoming elections, results in his favor will be consequential for him to advance his agenda in El Salvador.
The new Legislative Assembly will select five new Supreme Court justices and an attorney general.
Get the latest from La Croix International. Sign up to receive our daily newsletter.
You may also like
The Synod of Bishops and all the baptized
Papal nuncio in Peru under fire for getting vaccine with VIPs
Pope accepts Cardinal Robert Sarah's resignation from Worship congregation
Malaysia sends Myanmar refugees to an uncertain future
Pope Francis and the Roman Curia
SUPPORT LA CROIX INTERNATIONAL’S COMMUNITY OF READERS
Support La Croix International's unique blend of international Catholic journalism by making it available to people in Asia and Africa who can't afford a subscription and often don't have credit cards to pay for it either.
Vatican "foreign minister" calls for a world without nuclear weapons
Indian Christians cower under anti-religious conversion laws
Catholic bishops in Peru address refugee issue
Water-borne diseases add to Pakistan’s flood woes
"Vote according to your conscience", bishops tell Brazilians
Why Pope Francis did not attend Queen Elizabeth’s funeral
Celebrating gay relationships in church is actually quite Catholic
The elderly pope's patience is put to the test
Elizabeth II, the “last Christian monarch”, has died
A challenge for Europe
Shaking up the economy
Peace, our common good
For 70 years she “was” the United Kingdom
Cooperation rather than competition
The elderly pope's patience is put to the test
Francis continues his push for a humbler, more open Church
The pope and the praying menace
What was the August meeting of cardinals really about?
Is Christian hospitality enough?
"What fraternity does assisted suicide build?"
Live, learn, forget, repeat
When timing is paramount
The pandemic, Christian faith and the perils of kids living in the digital world
"It’s been powerful to watch people enunciate a theology of care for creation"
Laudato si’ guides Indian archdiocese to help fisherfolk
Brazilian bishops stand up for the Yanomami people
The Gaia Man, James Lovelock
Pope calls for a new relationship with God, others and Creation
| Catholic Digest | UCAN | Living in faith | La Croix Africa | La Croix español
About Us | Contact Us| Newsletter Sign-up| Donate| Terms and Conditions| FAQ| La Croix| Confidentiality Policy| Sitemap