The Peruvian Episcopal Conference (CEP) has expressed concern about two bills presented in Congress that seek to modify the calendar of national holidays, affecting important religious festivities.
In A statement Extended on Friday, March 7, Mons. Carlos García, president of the CEP and Bishop of Lurín, warned of the impact of legislative projects PL 10133/2024-CR and PL 10177/2024-CR in the cultural and spiritual identity of the country.
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The first initiative proposes to eliminate as a holiday on August 30, the day in which Santa Rosa de Lima is celebrated, while the second seeks to modify the nature of June 29 (San Pedro and San Pablo Day) and on December 8 (day of the Immaculate Conception), making them non -working days subject to coordination with the employer.
In this regard, Mons. García said that “these religious festivities are not only fundamental pillars for the spiritual life of millions of Catholics, but also generate a positive impact on culture, tourism and national economy, thus contributing to the general well -being of the country.”
He also emphasized that “Santa Rosa de Lima – patron of our National Police – is a saint of great relevance in the Catholic tradition, not only in Peru but throughout Latin America. His holiday is recognized internationally. ”
The CEP statement emphasizes that Peru has deep Catholic roots, and recalled the words of Pope Francis during his visit to the country in 2018, when he said that “Peru is a scheduled land.”
In that sense, the Peruvian Church argues that “faith in Christ has been a fundamental pillar in the construction of our national identity and it is essential to preserve these values that continue to illuminate our history.”
Given this situation, Mons. García made a call to Congress to reconsider these projects and “open a formal dialogue with the Catholic Church to jointly evaluate the social and cultural impact of these modifications.”
The CEP stressed the need to protect the country’s religious traditions and assured that it will remain attentive to the legislative debate on this matter.
Diego López Marina
I was born in 1991. I have a degree in Communication Sciences. Since 2015 I work as a digital journalist. I started my career in the newspaper El Comercio in Peru. In 2016, I began as editor in ACI Press and I perform as a web editor since 2018. From 2024, I write the Newsletter for Social Media. I specialize in Catholic news focused on the defense of life and family, international politics, technology, popular culture and the Vatican.