Bishop of the Anglican Church of El Salvador victim of an assassination attempt

Central America: March 24, 2010, (PCTV Newsdesk)

The Episcopal Church of El Salvador denounces before the general public and the international community the murder attempt that Bishop Barahona and two of his closest collaborators suffered.

This past Wednesday night (17th), Bishop Barahona, along two of his closest working partners, was victim of the violence that has held this country imprisoned. An unknown man, without saying anything, shot at them. The bullets hit the bishop’s driver, Francis Martínez, who is now hospitalized. Meanwhile, the bishop, thanks be to God, was unharmed.

What is odd about these events is that the police was just a couple of meters away. As the Episcopal Church, we are dismayed by this inexplicable fact. The bishop is a pastor whose principle function is to accompany spiritually the faithful who seek his advice and solace.

We lament profoundly this fact, as do many Salvadorans, who are victims of violence and impunity. We ask everyone’s prayers that hope in a different El Salvador is not lost and that this event is not a sign of persecution of the church.

The Most Rev’d Martín Barahona, 67 years old, has been the Bishop of the Anglican Church of El Salvador since 1992 and he is the Primate of the Anglican Communion in Central America (IARCA). This church is one of the historical churches, characterized by its prophetic accompaniment of the national reality.

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