The Catholic bishops of Colombia may play an active part in renewed
peace negotiations between the government and the Revolutionary Armed
Forces of Colombia (FARC), the Fides news service reports.
An initial peace accord between the government and FARC was rejected
by the people of Colombia in an October referendum, sending negotiators
back to the bargaining table.
During the past week, the two sides have
exchanged new proposals.
The negotiators have also met with civic groups
and with Church leaders. Archbishop Dario Monsalve of Cali told Fides
that these talks had dealt with “fundamental issues such as the family,
the rights of women and the gender theory,” Fides reports.
The Catholic bishops of Colombia may be asked to help draft the new
peace accord, and to play a role in helping FARC guerrillas resume
normal roles in peacetime society, according to reports.
The bishops’
conference plans a press briefing to discuss the peace process.