In a statement the Archbishop of Cali, His Exc. Msgr. Dario de Jesus
Monsalve Mejia, denounced the killing of one of the faithful of the
parish of Santa Cecilia during the celebration of the Mass for the feast
of the parish patron, on Tuesday evening, November 22. Not only the whole of Ciudad Cordoba neighborhood was present, but also many people from neighboring towns. A man entered the temple and began to shoot Fernando Padilla, a 35-year-old parishioner, and killed him, in front of the Archbishop who was celebrating Mass.
"Taking advantage of the gathering in churches to kill a parishioner and create terror among the faithful, goes beyond any rational consideration ... Unfortunately not even the fear of God stops the absolute disregard for human life that has roots in the soul of vast sectors of our Colombian society", said the statement sent to Fides.
Two years ago, in the same church, two other people were murdered, and even then the Archbishop denounced violence in holy places.