Former journalist who appealed to churches wins Salvadoran election

[struggle4progress]

By Ezra Fieser
Catholic News Service

SANTA ANA, El Salvador (CNS) -- Mauricio Funes, who campaigned that the moral strength of churches was at the center of change for this tiny Central American country, was elected president of El Salvador.

In his acceptance speech late March 15, Funes echoed the words of slain Archbishop Oscar A. Romero and touched on the ideas of liberation theology.

"The prophetic message of our martyr-bishop Archbishop Romero ... said that the church would have a preferential option for the poor. This will be the way I proceed, always looking to favor the poor and the excluded in a preferential way," he said ...

The Salvadoran bishops' conference released a statement in November instructing priests to abstain from "active participation" in the election, but to follow their consciences when voting ...

http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0901206.htm