Letter to U.S. Ambassador to Guatemala Hamilton Concerning Attacks on Church Workers and Threats Against Bishop Ramazzini, February 7, 2005

February 7, 2005 

Ambassador John R. Hamilton
United States Embassy
Avenida Reforma 7-01, Zona 10
Guatemala City

Dear Ambassador Hamilton, 

Greetings from the United Status Conference of Catholic Bishops. I write concerning an issue with which I am sure you are very well acquainted, namely the conflicted situation in San Marcos between some of the residents there and the international mining companies working in the area, and in particular the role of the Bishop of San Marcos, Mons. Álvaro Ramazzini. 

For some time now, we have been receiving disturbing reports of attacks against church workers in migrant ministry, including break-ins of migrant centers and, more recently, of the death threats directed at some of these workers and at Bishop Ramazzini himself. 

I would be grateful, Mr. Ambassador, if the Embassy would make known to the proper authorities of the Government of Guatemala the concerns these reports have raised with people in this country. I am attaching copies of letters which have just been sent to Bishop Ramazzini and Cardinal Rodolfo Quezada, expressing both the concern of this Episcopal Conference and our solidarity with the bishop and the whole Church in Guatemala.

With gratitude for whatever you can do, I remain

Sincerely yours, 

Most Reverend John H. Ricard
Bishop of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Chairman Committee on International Policy