www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life Prayer Request for prayers for Archbishop Duarte Cancino

I request your prayers for Archbishop Isaias Duarte Cancino.

Archbishop Duarte was the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Cali, Colombia. He was murdered Saturday evening as he walked to his car after officiating at a wedding from the Iglesia del Buen Pastor, which is loacted in a workign class neighborhood in Cali, Colombia's third largest city.

Archbishop Duarte was frequently critical of the leftist-terrorist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known by its Spanish acronym FARC. for over three years, Colombian President Andres Pastrana has tried to negotiate a peace settlement with the FARC. It failed, and peace talks were broken off last month. Colombia has been plagued by a 37 year old civil war, with two
Marxist groups, the other being the ELN (National Liberation Army) against the Colombian government.
Because of the government's inability to settle with the gurrellas, an extremist group called the AUC made up of some ex-Army officers and soldiers and others has arisen. they move into small towns, accuse the populace of cozying up to the FARC, and kill everyone.

Each of these groups makes money from cocaine production.

I ask for your prayers for the Archbishop and for the long suffering people of Colombia, for justice and peace. I have a special interest in colombia, as my "novia" of more than two years is preparing to come to the United States.

Thank you.

May the Lord God grant to his High Priestly Servant, Archbishop Isaias, blessed repose, where there is no pain sorrow or mourning, but only light and life everlasting. Eternal Memory!

Amen!

Yes the Archbishop is a martyr as far as I'm concerned, that is assuming he was assasinated by FARC. I heard today for the first time on the news, and right away offered my prayers for him. As you may recall I have questioned the Church position, the Bishops of Colombia and the USA, as to what they have done i.e. spoken of regarding outfits like the FARC. I guess I have my answer... at least from one Archbishop. Cali I understand is one of the most dangerous cities on the earth. And the Colombians will miss one heroic and couragous Bishop.

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jw, I might have to take issue with your stance regarding the "AUC". Unless I am mistaken this is the group that was begun by a farmer who's family was all killed, wiped out, by the FARC. He threw together a outfit of heavy hitters made up hungery fellows who have vendettas against the FARC for one reason or the other. They have adapted to the type of fighting of their enemy, use no M-16's but the best assualt rifles money can buy, they locate, close with, and attack their enemy with extreme predjudice, and they have literaly pulled on the scene and saved the lives of the Colombian regular's, standard issued soldiers.

As I understand it, this group does finance it's self through the drug trade... but not in the way you would say it. They take the money from the cocain outfits that they kill. And yes I understand that they kill entire farming villages, but those farming villages are all wraped up in the drug trade.

I don't know but the AUC seems to fight to win. Is this bad? I don't know. I don't live in their enviroment. But they have declared they have an enemy, and if you want to participate with that enemy, then I guess you become their enemy. And in war why should it be any different.

May the Lord grant mercy to all His servants who try to fulfil the Gospel mandate of Love God and Love one's Neighbor. May the Lord forgive their weaknesses in allying themselves with one of another group that does not share the mandate of the Gospel.

And may the Lord intervene among his human family to stop all killing as a method of achieving "justice".

Lord, be merciful!!!

May he rest in peace

War is never rhetorical or fought on message boards. Blood is blood. "Revenge is mine," saith the Lord.

Christendom has a new saint who now intercedes for us before the Throne of God---standing for peace-- next to the Holy Mother of God.

"And the last of these enemies is death."

Amen.

May the Holy Archbishop and Martyr pray unto God for us!

Alex

ER,

We just share two different opinions. And that is fine. I know from another past post of yours, you support Greek culture and health & well being, and consider anyone who would threaten that your enemies and the enemies of Greeks. I would be right in assuming you would fight to the death for these things?

Well a number of fellows in Colombia have decided that some things that they hold dear are worth dieing for. They will not easily surrender them. And is often the case, tragicaly as it may be, the best defense is a good offense. I happen to believe that war waged in Colombia is worth fighting. You do not. Again this is fine. You value what you value and I value what I value.

But the one thing we can agree on - is appreciation for Archbishop Duarte and kind and thought for prayers to be offered up on his behalf. I'm sure he would want peace in Colombia, and honestly I would want peace there also and the world round for that matter. Perhaps the Bishops death will in some form bring forth new life. We will see.


Peace,

Justin

Amen!

Dear Friends,

I remember the day, March 24th way back when, when Archbishop Oscar Romero was martyred in his Nicaragua cathedral.

I was in a sociology class led by a former Christian and now very Marxist professor.

He was shaken when he read us the news.

The next day he came and asked all of us, Marxist-Leninists included, to attend a memorial service for Romero.

He later returned to his spiritual roots as a Quaker.

Robert Lentz, FYI, has produced images of both Romero and the Jesuit Martyrs of Central America.

Alex

Que Dios recibe el alma del santo arcobispo.

May the Archbishop find the reward of his struggles against violence at last. May the peoples he served join his struggle and find peace.