Thirty-seven priests, men and women religious, and seminarians killed in 2009

The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples estimated that 30 priests, two seminarians, two women religious, and three lay pastoral workers died in 2009 performing their ministries. According to their published report, the following examples were typical in Latin America:

The 23 pastoral workers (18 priests, 2 seminarians, 1 sister, 2 lay people) were killed in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, El Salvador, United States, Guatemala and Honduras.

6 priests were killed in Brazil, an undoubtedly high number, so much so that the Pastoral Council of Bishops of the Bishops' Conference of Brazil, after its last meeting of the year, issued a statement on its concern for the rising tide of violence against the priests in the country: "The Catholic Church in Brazil was deeply hurt and indignant in the face of violence against her children whose life was cut short. We reaffirm that nothing justifies the violence."

Among the priests killed was Spaniard Ramiro Luden, known as "Father Ramiro,” who worked for 34 years in an association for supporting children, especially street children, and was murdered by a 15-year-old young man for robbery. Italian Fidei Donum missionary Fr. Ruggero Ruvoletto, killed in his parish, after having been robbed of 50 Real (about 19 euros). Fr. Evaldo Martiol, murdered by two young men, was the victim of a robbery that ended in murder. "His method of evangelizing was through friendship," the bishop recalled during his funeral.

Colombia, with 5 priests and 1 lay person killed, is in second place. All the priests were victims of robberies that ended tragically. The two Redemptorist priests, Father Gabriel Fernando Montoya Tamayo and Father Jesús Ariel Jiménez, were killed by a man who broke into the priests' living quarters at “Colegio de La Pascua,” most likely looking for money, killing them both while they were using the Internet. The lifeless body of Fr. Danilo Oscar Cardozo Ossa was found in the rectory of the parish, along with a gag and some ropes. Also, Fr. Emir Don Jaramillo Cardenas was killed on the night between Sunday, December 20, and Monday, December 21, 2009 in his home. Fr. Juan Gonzalo Aristizabal Isaza, was found dead inside the car he owned, abandoned on the local highway. In addition, there is the layman Jorge Humberto Echeverri Garro, a professor and pastoral workers, who worked as a catechist and advocate for social peace, killed by a group of guerrillas during a meeting concerning certain Church projects.

In Mexico, a priest and two seminarians were killed on their way to a pastoral meeting for vocations. Their vehicle was overtaken by another, they were made to exit the vehicle, and were beaten to death with firearms. The Archbishop of Acapulco has reported that in that region, there is a prevailing logic that everything can be solved with a gun, the logic of settling of accounts with bloodshed, and the armed forces are unable to control drug trafficking and violence .

Particularly disturbing were the violent deaths of two Spanish priests in Cuba: Fr. Eduardo de la Fuente Serrano, who died following a stabbing in a street on the outskirts of the capital, and Fr. Mariano Arroyo Merino, who was killed in his parish. His body was found handcuffed, gagged, and partially burned.

There were two victims in El Salvador: a priest and a young layman. The lifeless body of the Salvadoran Redemptorist Fr. Leopoldo Cruz was found several days after his disappearance in a canal in a rural area of San Salvador. The young William Quijano, of the Community of Saint Egidio, was killed by gunshots, as he returned home, by one of the many violent organized gangs formed by young people in poor neighborhoods of Central America. For five years, William was involved in the School of Peace for poor children of the neighborhood of Apopa, in the suburbs of the capital.

The only religious killed in the continent is Sister Marguerite Bartz, of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (SBS), was killed in her convent of Saint Berard in the Navajo area of New Mexico (United States of America). The nun was known as a woman who was always passionate for justice and peace. Also in the United States, Fr. Ed Hinds, Pastor of St. Patrick Church in Chatham, New Jersey (USA), was found dead in the Rectory beside the church, covered with numerous injuries and wounds caused by sharp weapon.

In Guatemala, Father Lorenzo Rosebaugh, of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI), was killed following an assault which occurred along a country road, while he and other priests were on their way to a pastoral meeting. Two men armed with rifles and with their faces covered stopped the car and, after robbing the missionaries of all they had, shot and killed Fr. Rosebaugh.

Guatemalan Capuchin priest Fr. Miguel Angel Hernandez, who had been pastor of a parish in Ocotepeque (Honduras) for four years, was found dead in a province of eastern Guatemala. He had died several days prior to the discovery of his body.

The Congregation shies away from calling them martyrs “since it is up to the Church to judge their possible merits, and also because of the scarcity of available information in most of cases, with regard to their life and even the circumstances of their death.” Let us pray:

V. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
R. And may perpetual light shine upon them.
V. May the souls of the faithfully departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen.

Read the Congregation’s full report here.