Controversy at the Top of the Peruvian Catholic Church
A storm is shaking the Catholic Church in Peru, pitting the conservative cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, a visible figure of Opus Dei, against a broad sector of the clergy over the human rights violations committed by the armed forces during the internal war of the past two decades. Peruvian bishop Luis Bambarén, a prestigious figure in the Catholic hierarchy, harshly criticized statements by Cipriani, who said on Saturday that it has become "fashionable" to mistreat the Armed Forces, and that the human rights issue is "too important" to leave in the hands of "a small ideological group." Published on September 2, 2008.