Thousands of students and parents marched through the streets of the city of Oruro demanding that the government respect the faith of most Bolivians and that the clauses in the country’s Constitution that recognize the role of the Church in Bolivia not be modified or removed.

Representatives from public and private schools, as well as those from parochial schools, participated in the march, carrying signs calling for respect for religious practice.

Bishop Cristobal Bialasik of Oruro addressed the protesters, emphasizing that peace and unity in Bolivia will be achieved “if we respect our faith, if we respect God” and learn “to live the values that He teaches us.”

Article 3 of the Bolivian Constitution states that: “The State recognizes and sustains the Catholic, Apostolic, Roman religion.  It guarantees the public exercise of all other faiths.  The relations with the Catholic Church shall be governed by concordats and agreements between the Bolivian State and the Holy See.”