Venezuelan priest receives death threats

A Venezuelan priest received death threats this Thursday through graffiti on the wall behind the main altar of his church in the state of Guárico.

“Due to my political position, even though I do not proselytize in the Eucharist or in the exercise of my priestly ministry, my position in this circumstance (of the country) is precise: I am not in favor of communism or socialism, or the regime as such,” Father Juan Manuel León told ACI Prensa.

The priest is parish priest of the San Juan Pablo II quasi-parish, on the outskirts of the city of San Juan de los Morros, in the Archdiocese of Calabozo, about two hours from the capital.

Father León said that, although he is respectful of the opinions of all people, local leaders affected by the government of President Nicolás Maduro “reject him.”

“More than all the radicals, because I have worked with many of them and we have worked well, with respect,” added the parish priest.

Father León said that he maintains his political positions “from a personal perspective” and “outside of everything that has to do with the sacraments and the Church.”

In addition, he reported that he will take measures to protect his safety, coordinated with the archbishopric and police agencies.

“Maintain faith, hope and love for Christ, who is our bastion and our strength, to continue walking paths of hope and achieve the holiness that God wants for our lives,” said the priest when asked to send a message to Venezuelans, who have just celebrated the canonization of their first two saints.

The parishioners of the parish helped to cover the graffiti with the insults and filled the parish on Thursday afternoon to participate in a Mass of reparation, where they expressed their support and solidarity with the priest.

The attack against Father León occurred after days of tensions between the Church and the Venezuelan government within the framework of the canonization of San José Gregorio Hernández and Santa Carmen Rendiles.

This week and in the days leading up to the October 19 ceremony, the bishops repeatedly called for the freedom of political prisoners and respect for human rights in Venezuela.

Furthermore, Venezuelan journalist Edgar Beltrán, a contributor to the American Catholic media outlet The Pillar, was attacked on October 17 at the Pontifical Lateran University during an event marking the canonization of two new Venezuelan saints.

In the midst of these tensions, was suspended a Mass of thanksgiving that was scheduled for this October 25 in Caracas and for which the attendance of almost 50,000 faithful from all over the country was expected.

ACI Prensa contacted the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference to ask for comments on what happened, but has not received a response at the time of this publication.