Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Asunción (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of Paraguay have expressed their dismay regarding the murder of an elderly couple and their two grandchildren, which occurred last week on an estate in Chaco, and called for the immediate arrest of the alleged perpetrators. The bodies of Alcibiades Ayala, 73, Francisca Núñez, 71, and their grandchildren aged 7 and 10, were found on Sunday, July 14 on their farm, which is located about 670 kilometers north of Asunción.
"As a Church we are deeply upset, above all by the ferocity and cruelty with which the criminals acted", reads the statement of the Bishops' Conference of Paraguay, published on July 17, sent to Fides.
At the same time the Bishops appreciated "the effort and commitment that the Prosecutor’s Office and the authorities carried out in order to identify the culprits that will have to be brought to justice".
The ministry announced that eight people have been accused of their alleged direct and indirect participation in the attack. Apparently the reason is due to the theft of a hundred head of cattle of hacienda.
Cattle theft continues to be frequent in that area. Violence in Paraguay has alarmed the Bishops of the country for a long time, who have repeatedly called for reflection on the dignity of the person and the value of life. Only in the last year there been many appeals from the Bishops against the various forms of violence: violence in prisons, violence against indigenous leaders (see Fides, 28/2/2019), violence against women (see Fides, 30/11/ 2018) and the violence regarding the corruption of politicians (see Fides, 08/9/2018), among others. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 19/7/2019)
AFRICA/SOUTH SUDAN - After the release of the main suspect, Bishops call for a “thorough investigation” into the attack on Bishop Carlassare
AFRICA/DR CONGO - Cardinal Ambongo: “The situation in Goma is serious. We fear widespread insecurity in the east of the DRC”
AMERICA/CHILE - God's wisdom contrasts with 'politics' and many demographic 'programs': Bishop of Melipilla on Mother's Day
AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - CELAM Assembly: "Christ must be the center of our meeting, of our reflection, of our pastoral care"
AFRICA/DR CONGO - Bishops of Bukavu Ecclesiastical Province: “Insecurity is endemic and the state is absent”