The ruling Socialist party in Bolivia has seized lands surrounding the Marian Shrine of Copacabana, which are used to help maintain the site, claming they are “unproductive lands of the Church.”

Father Sebastian Obermaier of the Diocese of El Alto denounced the group of party loyalists who seized the lands that belong to the Catholic Church, cut down the trees and divided the property into seven lots.

Father Obermaier said he hoped the government would resolve the situation.  Several decades ago the Bolivian government had donated the land to the Church to help maintain the shrine.