Salvadoran archbishop denounces occupation of Cathedral by protestors

San Salvador, El Salvador, Jul 4, 2005 / 22:00 pm

Archbishop Fernando Saenz Lacalle of San Salvador denounced the occupation of the city’s Cathedral this week by a group of former government employees who were upset about losing their jobs in recent months.

The archbishop was forced to celebrate Sunday Mass in the Cathedral’s crypt due to the occupation.

After Mass, Archbishop Saenz denounced the action.  “We must lament that they have occupied the nave of the Cathedral against every right, violating the rights of all the faithful,” he explained.

He also called on protestors to trust in the solutions which the Church and the government are seeking in response to the layoffs.

The 94 protestors—8 of which remain on a hunger strike-- began the occupation last weekend and are demanding the Salvadoran government provide them a total of $45,000 in compensation for having been laid off and for losing their employment benefits.

“We have reached out to them when they were in need, but this use of force is of no benefit to them.  I hope these pressures disappear since we are trying to help them,” Archbishop Saenz stated.