wfn.org | Chilean President Commends Lutherans' Commitment to Human

["Frank Imhoff" <Frank.Imhoff@elca.org>]

Chilean President Commends Lutherans' Commitment to Human Rights
LWF President Hanson Visits Churches in Chile

SANTIAGO, Chile/GENEVA, 22 October 2005 (LWI) - Chilean President
Ricardo Lagos Escobar has commended Lutherans for playing an "important
role" in sustaining humanitarian rights in Chile, particularly during a
time of military dictatorship.

Lagos paid his tribute during an October 17 meeting in the Chilean
capital with the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, president of the Lutheran World
Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church
in America (ELCA); Rev. Gloria Rojas, president of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in Chile (IELCH); and Bishop Rolando Holtz, Lutheran
Church in Chile (ILCH).

Hanson was in the South American country October 16-18 to learn more
about the ministries of the IELCH and ILCH, and the impact of both LWF
member churches on Chilean society. 

President Lagos acknowledged the continuing Lutheran commitment for
human rights and ministry among the poor in Chile today. The Lutheran
leaders briefly recalled General Augusto Pinochet's 1973-1990 military
rule, during which thousands who were opposed to the dictatorship were
tortured, imprisoned without trial or "disappeared." Hanson, shared some
impressions about his visit to the "Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi," a
former detention and torture center during the dictatorship period, now
transformed into a park of remembrance and peace.

The Chilean president said it was now important that "the democratic
government has been consistent" in its pursuit of "truth to what
happened during that time, particularly to those who disappeared,"
adding that around 29,000 people were reported to have been detained and
tortured. Lagos presented Hanson "The Report of the Chilean National
Commission on Truth and Reconciliation," the first-ever major
investigation into torture during the military regime. Previous reports
have focused on those who were killed, estimated at around 3,000.

As leader of the LWF and ELCA, Hanson said he seeks to meet with the
United States' political leaders to hold them accountable for the impact
and dominance of the United States in the world. 

The group also discussed the government's affirmation of "creating more
space" for evangelical churches to be fully recognized as religious
organizations, given the prevailing presence of the Roman Catholic
Church in Chilean society. Hanson said Lutherans "can serve as a bridge"
to facilitate dialogue between local evangelical and Roman Catholic
churches. He cited the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of
Justification which he described as a "living letter" documenting the
Christian unity between the LWF and Roman Catholic Church.

Hanson described as "a sign of hope" separate meetings earlier with a
group of local ecumenical leaders, the majority of whom are Pentecostal,
and with the Roman Catholic Church auxiliary bishop. He said Evangelical
churches, or all those that were not Roman Catholic in Chile, were
interested in coming together and creating space to take up common
challenges.

"We have great respect for the number of churches in Chile today,"
Lagos said. He noted there had "been a very good advancement" in regard
to the presence of non-Roman Catholic churches.

Other concerns discussed during the meeting with Lagos included the
increasing disparity between the rich and poor as a result of economic
globalization, and the need for partnership between governments and
religious bodies like the LWF in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and
support for those who are affected. 

The IELCH with 3,000 members joined the LWF in 1955. The 11,800-member
ILCH has been an LWF member church since 1991. (569 words) 

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(The LWF is a global communion of Christian churches in the Lutheran
tradition. Founded in 1947 in Lund, Sweden, the LWF currently has 140
member churches in 78 countries all over the world, with a total
membership of nearly 66 million. The LWF acts on behalf of its member
churches in areas of common interest such as ecumenical and inter-faith
relations, theology, humanitarian assistance, human rights,
communication, and the various aspects of mission and development work.
Its secretariat is located in Geneva, Switzerland.)

[Lutheran World Information (LWI) is the LWF's information service.
Unless specifically noted, material presented does not represent
positions or opinions of the LWF or of its various units. Where the
dateline of an article contains the notation (LWI), the material may be
freely reproduced with acknowledgment.]

*	*	*

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