  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Spain Donates $2.5 Million
Three thousand families who were significantly affected by tropical storm Stan and the eruption of the Ilamatepec
volcano will be helped by a donation from the government of Spain. The municipalities of Ahuachapán, Atiquizaya, San
Lorenzo, Tacuba, San Francisco Menéndez, San Pedro Puxtla and Jujutla will benefit. The Spanish ambassador to El Salvador
said that this grant is part of $60 million that has been approved for aid to Guatemala and El Salvador.
El Niño Departs
The National Weather Service and the Ministry of Agriculture say that El Niño will not significantly effect
agriculture in the coming growing season. El Niño began in August of last year and is expected to end soon. Recently
there has been concern that there would be a drought in the coming (rainy) months, but now authorities are predicting normal
precipation and encouraging farmers to plant in June, as usual.
Ministry of Education Reduces Funding of Prevention Programs
A program begun last year to reduce violence in schools through alternative schools has been reduced from
2.5 million dollars to 1.7 million this year.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Pope recalls anniversary of 1980 slaying of archbishop
VATICAN CITY: (International Herald Tribune, March 25) Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday recalled
the 1980 slaying of El Salvador archbishop and human rights activist Oscar Romero, and praised those who lost their lives
in carrying out their mission for the Roman Catholic Church.
Benedict reminded pilgrims in St. Peter's Square that Saturday had been the anniversary of Romero's killing,
and that the church had dedicated the day to prayer and fasting for missionary martyrs.
He described they martyrs as "bishops, priests, other men and women clergy and lay people cut down in carrying
out their mission of evangelization and human promotion."
Benedict said martyrs represent hope for the world "because they testify that the love of Christ is stronger
than violence and hate."
The Vatican is considering Romero for possible sainthood.
Before Benedict made his traditional Sunday appearance from his studio window on St. Peter's Square, he visited
a church on Rome's outskirts dedicated to martyrs.
With song and prayer on Saturday, hundreds of Salvadorans in the capital, San Salvador, mark the 27th anniversary
of Romero's slaying.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Vatican Squashes Liberation Theologian
Padre Jon Sobrino, one of the most famous liberation theologians, has been censured by the Vatican. The
Spanish born priest has been posted to El Salvador since 1958, and was a cofounder of the Jesuit University of Central
America (UCA). He narrowly escaped being assassinated at UCA in 1989 when six of his Jesuit associates and two
staff were shot. Padre Sobrino has been accused by the church hierarchy of "not stating openly the divine conscience
of the historical Jesus", this is, putting too much stress on the humanity of Christ hiding its divinity. Sobrino has
been enjoined from teaching in Catholic schools and from publishing. Jesuit superiors have supported Sobrino in the
charges brought by Rome.
Sun, March 11, 2007 | link
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
