Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
San Jose (Agenzia Fides) – "Laura Chinchilla Miranda has not only become the first woman to be elected President of Costa Rica, but is also a committed Catholic. The figure of Chinchilla joins other women in America, such as Mireya Moscoso of Panama, Violeta Barrios in Nicaragua, Cristina Fernandez Kirchner in Argentina, and Michelle Bachelet in Chile: women with a very important position in Latin America," said the Vicar of the Diocese of Alajuela, Father Sixto Varela Santamaría, who was contacted by Fides for comment on the election of the new President.
"The new president of Costa Rica - continued Father Sixto - is a political scientist by profession, and is recognized for her Catholic faith and her opposition, during the election campaign, to the fact that this small country with a Catholic majority should adopt laws that promote abortion, euthanasia, same-sex marriages, and the creation of a secular state. Even among the excitement for the election victory, her faith has not been hidden. At the end of her victory speech last Sunday, she thanked the people of Costa Rica for having been elected, and said that hopefully, with God's help and with the 'Virgencita de los Angeles', she would be able to carry out this important assignment in dignity and honesty.
Father Sixto Varela Santamaría again emphasizes that “for Archbishop Hugo Barrantes, President of the Bishops' Conference of Costa Rica, it is a great honor that a woman was called by the people, by the popular vote, to lead the country for the first time. In a brief conversation with the newly elected President transmitted by Radio Fides, he said that 'both agree that the State and the Church are autonomous, but not indifferent towards one another,' words that Chinchilla supported and approved. The conversation took place shortly before the future President of Costa Rica arrived at the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles, the National Shrine, where she went to thank God for the victory, through the intercession of Mary. Here, she gave a brief speech thanking the people of Costa Rica, and the Bishop of Carthage, Bishop Jose Francisco Ulloa, called her the 'favored daughter of La Negrita de los Ángeles,' for her devotion to the Mother of God." (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/02/2010)
