Latin American Correspondent

OCAÑA, Colombia — The murder of three priests in one week was a shock too hard for most Colombians to take. It was so hard, in fact, that even President Alvaro Uribe decided to reconsider his “no deal” stand against guerrilla forces, thus opening new hopes of peaceful negotiations in Colombia.

And the tragedies have led to a new role for the country's bishops in mediating in the country's long-standing insurgency.

“It may sound contradictory that the brutal murders of three priests are bringing a serious hope for peace,” Bishop Luis Castro, president of the Colombian Bishops' Conference, told the Register, “but on the other hand, it is very much in the Gospel's logic: The seed must fall and die to bear much fruit.”

The wave of murders that changed Colombia's political landscape started Aug. 15, when Fathers Vicente Bayona, 49, Jesus Mora, 60, and two contractors were murdered by armed men in the northern city of OcaÑa, a zone where two Marxist guerrilla groups and one paramilitary group are active.

Despite the fact that no one claimed responsibility, police immediately blamed the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known as FARC) the largest guerrilla group.

Bishop Castro issued a statement condemning the murders as crimes that “dishonor those who committed them, and that thwart the aspirations of reconciliation and peace that the Church preaches.”

Only 48 hours later, Father Jesus S´nchez, pastor of El Limón in the central province of Tolima, was murdered while teaching at a small rural school. According to Bishop Castro, the priest was dragged out of the class by a group of militiamen and “shot in the most cruel and brutal manner.”

“As we learn about this criminal and sacrilegious act, we implore forgiveness and conversion for the authors of such horrendous crimes, whoever they may be,” Bishop Castro said.

For the local bishop, Abraham Escudero Montoya, of the Diocese of Espinal, there was no doubt who the authors were. He explained that Father S´nchez had repeatedly been threatened by members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia because of his fierce opposition to the draft the guerrillas were forcing on local young men.

“The murder was a new blow to a people that cannot bear any more violence or bloodshed,” Bishop Escudero said.

Church ‘Not a Target’

The murders were used by the government to rally further support for Uribe's controversial but partially successful hard line against guerrilla groups. Unlike his predecessor Andrés Pastrana, who tried to establish a dialogue with the guerrilla groups and even created a “safety zone” for them, Uribe has established a new approach to the guerrilla groups.

Since he assumed power in 2002, Uribe announced that no negotiations would start with any such group unless they lay down their arms. His strategy brought a successful peace deal with the paramilitaries, and his military offensive has expanded safety zones and put Marxist guerrilla groups on the defensive.

The strategy also has paid significant political dividends: More than 72% of Colombians support Uribe.

But on Aug. 22, a surprising breakthrough completely changed the landscape.

Though the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia has been blamed for all the murders, a competing Marxist rebel group, the National Liberation Army (ELN), issued a statement claiming responsibility for the murder of Fathers Rozo and Mora.

In the statement, the National Liberation Army said the attacks were due to “intelligence and tactical errors.” It also said the Church is not one of its targets and that it continues to consider the Church “a bridge to facilitate a political solution to the country's civil conflict.”

The statement also said that the act “will not go unpunished,” and that the group would take the necessary measures in accord with its own “wartime rules of conduct and humane ethics.”

Less than two hours after the statement was released, the Colombian Bishops Conference issued a quick response of “forgiving just as Our Lord told us to do.” It also made a dramatic call to all parties involved to stop the bloodshed.

“As far as the Church is concerned, we forgive the ELN for what has happened,” said Bishop Castro. “We will continue to dialogue with them and with all of the illegally armed groups in order to achieve the elusive peace.”

Bishops Mediate

But probably the biggest surprise was Uribe's sudden announcement that he accepted an offer made by the bishops to serve as mediator between the government and the Marxist rebels.

On Aug. 23, after paying a visit to the Colombian Bishops' Conference and holding a private meeting with its members, the president gave the go-ahead to the bishops to help negotiate a cease-fire.

“The president's change of mind is quite close to a miracle,” explained Carmen Elena Villa, a journalist who covers religious issues for El Colombiano. “President Uribe went to the conference for a courtesy visit, while the bishops had only the issue of abortion in their agenda. And all of a sudden, this significant change in policy comes out,” Villa told the Register.

In fact, Uribe announced that “the government accepts the Church's efforts for a preliminary dialogue aimed at a ceasefire.”

According to former Sen. Carlos Otarola, “Even if the acceptance of the Church's mediation is a carrot-and-stick tactic to deal with the guerrillas, it definitively opens a door for a peaceful agreement.”

The murders and the surprising turn they have sparked have brought new attention to the critical role priests and religious play in Colombia.

According to the bishops' conference, the number of priests murdered during the last five years has risen to 32.

“Although the guerrilla organizations have not systematically obstructed the mission of Church personnel, they have often threatened them and forced them to leave some areas,” says Bishop Fabi´n Marulanda, secretary general of the bishops' conference.

In the last years, 54 religious have been threatened, and five bishops, 18 priests and one missionary have been kidnapped, while 71 churches have been either destroyed or seriously damaged.

Nevertheless, “priests and religious keep carrying out their mission and vocations keep flourishing,” Bishop Marulanda said. “It seems that the powerful witness of courage and sacrifice is inspiring the new generation of priests and religious.”

Alejandro Bermúdez is based in Lima, Peru.