Chilean bishop reaffirms Church’s commitment to defending human rights

Santiago, Chile, Jul 28, 2010 / 11:56 am (CNA).- The president of the Chilean Bishops’ Conference, Bishop Alejandro Goic, remarked this week that the Church will always defend human rights because part of her mission is the protection of human dignity.

The bishop made his statements after meeting with family members of executed political prisoners and dissidents who were detained and went missing. “For this reason,” Bishop Goic explained, “in the past, the Church defended human rights, as she does today and will continue to do so as long as she exists.

Asked why he had not met with the family members before, the bishop said it was not because of any “ill will.” He added that the bishops “have been pleased to meet with them and listen to their petitions, longings and concerns.”

Bishop Goic also expressed his appreciation for Chilean President Sebastian Pinera’s decision to reform the country’s prison conditio


(2010-07-28/KSWT-TV )