October 22, 2005

SANTIAGO, Chile/GENEVA – 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.

Lutheran World Information