Presiding Bishop's Letter to the Bishops of the Episcopal Church on the Release of Church Workers in El Salvador
Episcopal News Service. January 10, 1990 [90010]
I know you join me in giving thanks to God that seven of our eight Church workers have been released from detention in El Salvador. This past Friday I shared with you that our diocesan office in San Salvador had received word that the release of our people had been ordered.
The actual release came late Friday afternoon. Father Luis Serrano left for Madrid on Sunday for a much needed rest. The others remain in El Salvador. Julio Cesar Castro Ramirez remains in detention. Our lawyers in El Salvador are continuing to work for his release. He is being held because his brother is a member of the FMLN.
Please share this news. The agonizing period of waiting, often with despair, has finally ended for seven of our people. So many people in our Church have worked tirelessly to find a resolution to this vexing crisis. All of us should now take time to praise God and give thanks for the safe return of those who have been released. Continue to pray for their safety as the climate of fear and intimidation continues. And pray also for the release of Julio Cesar Castro Ramirez.
While we rejoice in this encouraging development, dear friends, the crisis in Central America continues. I have stated in these past weeks that I believe that there needs to be a reassessment of our government's policy in Latin America from top to bottom. Certainly the intervention in Panama is a further case in point. There are deep moral issues involved which require that the voice of the Church be lifted up and heard.
General Convention and Executive Council have spoken many times to issues regarding Central America and the struggle for peace in that region. I am convening key members of our Church Center staff today to reflect on how we as a Church might better enable the implementation of those Church policies affecting Central America. I hope to be able to report on this matter to Executive Council in March.
I hope, in time, that the whole Church will join together on this issue in support of our beleaguered but faithful and courageous sisters and brothers in the Ninth Province.
Faithfully yours,
Edmond L. Browning
Presiding Bishop
January 8, 1990