Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Temuco (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishop of Temuco, His Exc. Mgr. Hector Eduardo Vargas Bastidas, S.D.B. in a testimony sent to Fides, highlights the situation after the attacks on churches which recently occurred in southern Chile. So far nine churches and chapels were set on fire during the early months of 2016, and on-site messages were found relating to the Mapuche case (see Fides 19/12/2015; 09/03/2016; 05/04/2016; 13/04/2016).
At a national level, there are more than one million Mapuche people. In the Diocese of Temuco there are priests, deacons, religious, animators and catechists belonging to the Mapuche who work for the Good News every day.
Mgr. Héctor Vargas tells Fides what he has already told the media after the attacks on churches and chapels in the region of La Araucania and Arauco province: "he would be willing even to give his life" to resolve the conflict that exists in the area.
"Churches burned to solve the Mapuche conflict is unexplainable", said the Bishop of Temuco.
"On our behalf, if offering life could help solve this serious problem, many of us would perhaps be willing to even make this gesture", he concluded. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 22/04/2016)
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