The Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica (Cecor) made an urgent call to the authorities to “redouble their efforts to eradicate that scourge” of violence that affects the country and requested the implementation of public policies that address the roots of the problem.
The country faces a moment of great tension due to the increase in violent homicides and crimes, many of them attributed by the Government to clashes between criminal gangs.
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On January 3, Randall Zúñiga López, general director of the Judicial Investigation Agency (OIJ) – dependent of the Supreme Court of Justice -, reported at a press conference that Costa Rica registered “the second highest year in what are homicides” in its recent history.
According to Zúñiga López, the murders have increased considerably: “We went from being in an average of 585, 580 homicides to climb to 654 and later, in 2023, at 905. This year we have already been 880,” he said. In addition, he stressed that “almost 80% of the homicides were with a firearm.”
In this context, the episcopate expressed in a statement “His pain and dismay before so many violent deaths” occurred in the country, especially by the recent murder of Geiner Zamora, subgist of the OIJ, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who, who According to the authorities, He investigated a criminal group.
The bishops condemned violence and emphasized that “especially the one who snatches the life of those who dedicate their efforts to protect and serve the community, is an attack against human dignity and against the love plan that God has for each one of us” .
“These tragedies remind us of the urgency of working together for peace, justice and reconciliation. We cannot allow fear, indifference or impunity to settle in our hearts, ”said the message.
The bishops also invited the population to join in prayer “for the eternal rest of so many brothers who have suffered violent deaths also pray for their families that suffer their sudden separation.” They also called to transform pain into a renewed commitment to justice and security, based on solidarity and respect for life.
In its message, the Cecor stressed that security does not depend solely on coercive measures, but must be complemented “with education, opportunities and a culture of the encounter that value life above all”, under the protection of the Virgin Mary.
Diego López Colín
I am a graduate of journalism at the Carlos Septién García school with experience of religious institutional communication. Since 2016 I write for digital media and, since 2018, I report the most important news about the Catholic event in Mexico for the Ewtn news channel. ACI Press correspondent in Mexico since 2023.