Rebels oust parish priests

Colombia – A prelate has condemned the actions of guerrillas in evicting priests form their parishes in a rural areas of the country.

When he learned of the evictions in Puerto Guzmán and Puerto Leguizam, Bishop Luis Alberto Parra Mora took to the airwaves to call on the government to act at once to ensure the safety of priests and to work towards allowing the ousted clerics to return to their communities.

In all, it is reported that six priests were ordered from their parishes in the guerrilla action, which came despite Church participation in peace talks between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) group.