Bishops of El Salvador ask for the end of metal mining with 150,000 signatures

The Salvadoran episcopate presented to the Legislative Assembly, this Tuesday, A letter backed by 150,000 signatures with the objective of achieving the repeal of the Metal Mining Law, approved in December 2024 with the support of President Nayib Bukele.

Mons. José Luis Escobar, Archbishop of San Salvador, said that this initiative of the bishops arises “without any political, ideological or power groups.”

Metal mining was prohibited in the Central American country by law since 2017. In December 2024, and at the request of President Nayib Bukele, the Legislative Assembly approved a law that reactivated mining activity nationwide. The local Catholic Church, together with various activists, has positioned itself against this measure due to its high ecological impact.

Mons. Escobar explained that the motivation of the episcopate is to ensure the common good of the Salvadoran people, especially the most vulnerable. Since February 7, the bishops began a campaign to collect signatures “both from Catholics and men and women of good will of this country, from the most varied sectors of society.”

“These firms express the will of a people, which on any economic interest, privileges human life in all their other ways, even before their birth,” said Mons. Escobar.

“These firms are the voice of the people who cry for the repeal of the Mining Law, for being highly harmful against human life and against the environment “he added. The bishops say that El Salvador, due to their high population density and their shortage of water, “would not resist mining extraction.”

In addition, he recalled that the power that officials stop temporarily should not be used “to safeguard personal, partisan, ideological interests, or large national or foreign capital.”

“May God illuminate his minds and give them spirit of discernment, wisdom and sense to legislate according to the will of the people expressed in these firms,” ​​concludes the letter of the Salvadoran Episcopate.

Until December 2024, El Salvador was the only country in the world where metal mining was prohibited. For President Bukelethis was an absurd situation, because the wealth given by God “can be used in a responsible way” to achieve high economic and social development.

Bishops fear, on the other hand, that “water and air” pollution increases with these activities, causing death and diseases irreversibly “especially among the poorest.