The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1952-03-21
BY Jose Lopez

$50 prominent Colombian citizens
have told the United States Am
bassador here that they deplore
incidents of violence against Amer
lean Protestant missionaries.
AT the same time they expressed
their regret that many us. Prot
estant missionaries insist on con-
tinuing an insulting propaganda
which is causing popular indigna-
tion and seriously threatening the
friendship of the Colombian people
for the United States.
These views were expressed in
letter written to Ambassador
Capus M. Waynick and signed by
professional men, teachers, indus
triallsts, businessmen, students and
workers.
The letter expressed the hope
that this insulting" type of prose
lytism will stop. Otherwise, the
signers said, the acts of indignation
by the more primitive people will
probably continue despite all con-
demnations of violence by both the
Church and the civil authorities.
The letter was made known here
only week after The Evangelical
Confederation of Colombia, a Prot
estant group, released what it de-
scribed as a list of % cases of re-
llgiouS persecution of ProteStants
since last December. The alleged
incidents included the fatal shoot
ing" of a Seventh Day Adventist
and the beating" of Protestant
pastor by mounted policeman.
About 10,500,000 of CoIombia's
1,225,000 people are Catholic.
Catholicism is recognized as the
religion OF the nation. But all re-
llgionS are guaranteed freedom of
worship by the constitution.
The text of the letter follows:
We, the undersigned, Colon
blan citizens, true friends and adj
mirers of the great people of the
United States, realizing the re-
SponslbllitieS which this hour puts
upon all men of good will for order
and the defense of Christian civili-
zation, address ourselves to Your
EXcellency TO express our regret
over the incidents which have hap
pened in our country and which
have brought harm to some us.
citizens belonging to some sects
and Protestant associations seeking
to establish and propagate their
beliefs here.
AS Colombians and as Catho-
lies we respect freedom of con
science and of worship, as our law
prescribes and our present inter
national treaties stipulate. But at
the same time we wish to express
to Your Excellency that the public
propaganda which some US. de-
nominations are carrying on
Sects to which Colombia generous
ly extended its hospitality-is aim
ed at destroying and fighting the
Catholic Faith which the over
whelming majority of the Colombo
ans profess. 1t is Faith inherited
from our forefathers as the great
est, most precious trust and has
been a blessed contribution to the
priceless progress and culture OF
this land.
This propaganda is often carried
on in insulting and audacious ways,
unworthy of true Protestants and
humlllating TO us because ii de
picts us as mission country.
This proSelytism is aimed al
most exclusively at poor, ignorant
simple people who cannot defend
their general beliefs. 1t is just this
4 type propaganda which provokes
the popular reaction that has caus
ed some victims among the propa
gandlSts. Ii also creates a feeling
of hostility against the United
States at time when unity and
harmonious relations among the
American nations are so urgent in
the face of common enemy who
daily grows more menacing.
we do not imply that Your Ex
cellency is condoning this propa
ganda, much less that Your Excel
lency is conniving with these sects
We do not believe either that Youl
Excellency is called upon because
of your post to remove the cause
of what we consider a great evil
We want only to speak to Youl
Excellency as the representative OF
the people of the United States tC
express vigorously and publicly
that we earnestly desire a cordial
friendship and good relations with