Bogotá, Colombia, Feb 5, 2013 / 16:01 pm
A cardinal in Colombia is mourning the recent murder of a local priest, which brings the clergy death toll in the country to 83 since 1984.
"Every murder is offensive, but the murder of a man who has dedicated his life to Christ and to the service of others causes special concern," said Cardinal Ruben Salazar of Bogota, reacting to the murder.
Father Luis Alfredo Suarez Salazar was killed on Feb. 2 by two unknown assailants in the northern Colombian city of Ocana. The 50-year-old priest was visiting the city on vacation before planning to return to his home Diocese of Villavicencio.
According to police reports, Fr. Suarez was killed while helping his sister load items into her van. The two assailants fled on a motorcycle.