ELCA NEWS SERVICE

October 19, 2005

Lutherans Play 'Important Role' Says the President of Chile
05-198-MRC

     SANTIAGO, Chile (ELCA) -- Lutherans have played an
"important role" in sustaining humanitarian rights in Chile,
particularly during a time of military dictatorship, Richard
Lagos Escobar, president of Chile, told the Rev. Mark S. Hanson
and leaders of Iglesia Evangelica Luterana en Chile (IELCH)
(Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile) and Iglesia Luterana en
Chile (ILCH) (Lutheran Church in Chile) in a 30-minute meeting
here Oct. 17.
     Hanson, president of the 66-million-member Lutheran World
Federation (LWF), based in Geneva, Switzerland, and presiding
bishop of the 4.9-million-member Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), Chicago, visited Chile Oct. 16-18 to learn more
about the ministries of IELCH and ILCH -- both members of the LWF
-- and the impact of both churches on Chilean society.
     President Lagos began the meeting by immediately
acknowledging a continuing Lutheran commitment for human rights
and ministry among the poor in Chile today.
     Lagos, Hanson and pastors of IELCH and ILCH briefly recalled
General Augusto Pinochet's military dictatorship from 1973 to
1988.  During that time thousands in opposition of the
dictatorship were tortured, imprisoned without trial or
"disappeared."
     "The way people (here) think about that time is personal,"
and there are "different perspectives of what happened," said
Lagos.  What is important to understand now is that since the end
of the dictatorship "the democratic government has been
consistent" in its pursuit of "truth to what happened during that
time, particularly to those who disappeared," he said, adding
that about 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 report is important for the healing of the state," said
Hanson, who also shared with Lagos some impressions about his
visit to "La Parque por la Paz Villa Grimaldi" ("Park of Peace"
at Villa Grimaldi).  The park is a living memorial of Chileans
who were detained, tortured and/or disappeared at Villa Grimaldi
-- one of many detention and torture sites under the
dictatorship.  Hanson said his visit there was "moving, and
serves as an important reminder of the history of this country."
     As leader of the LWF and ELCA, Hanson said he seeks to meet
with U.S. political leaders to hold them accountable for the
impact and dominance of the United States in the world.  "We bear
great responsibility for our silence in the world," particularly
regarding injustices that have taken and continue to take place,
he said.
     A product of economic globalization "we see in some of the
LWF member churches is the disparity between rich and poor," said
Hanson, asking the president how he sees the disparity in Chile.
     In response Lagos said there are still "too many areas in
the country" where people live in poverty, and he said the
government will continue its commitment to reduce poverty.
     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 -- a
"living letter" that documents the Christian unity between the
LWF and the Catholic Church -- and informed the president about
his plan to visit Pope Benedict XVI at The Vatican next month.
     Hanson also cited two meetings that took place earlier in
the day -- one with a group of local ecumenical leaders, the
majority of whom are Pentecostal, and another meeting with the
auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Church here.  He called the
meetings "a sign of hope.  We are working to be that kind of
'table' in the United States.  I experience it quite often in
other countries (more) than I do in the United States, and it
gives us courage to continue on.  Evangelical churches, or all
those that are not Roman Catholic in Chile, are interested in
coming together and creating space to take up challenges that
they need to face together, such as having access to military
chaplains, teaching religion in schools, access to chaplains in
hospitals and more.  There was a cooperative commitment to
working together."
     "We have great respect for the number of churches in Chile
today," Lagos said.  "There has been a very good advancement" in
the presence of non-Roman Catholic churches here, he said.
     On a separate topic, Lagos said many people are affected
with HIV/AIDS in the country.  He, along with Chile's health
minister, expressed an intention to be partners with religious
bodies such as the LWF and its member churches in Chile on
HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and support for those who are
affected.  Hanson said Lutherans throughout the world want to be
strong partners in response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
     In an interview Hanson said, "Our meeting with the president
of Chile was significant for a number of reasons, from (the
president's) start of the meeting -- without any prompting from
us -- acknowledging the strong contributions of Lutherans in
Chile, to (discussion of) the transition from a dictatorship to a
free and open society."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
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