Central America

U.S. brother beatified on soccer fields of Guatemalan school he served
- Dec 9, 2019
Christian Brother James Miller taught students and served as a vice principal at the La Sallian Christian Brothers school in this impoverished pocket of rural Guatemala. He also helped oversee a boarding home for male students from the surrounding indigenous communities.

By David Agren
Central American bishops defend Francis over Amazon synod, “Pachamama”
- Dec 2, 2019
At the close of their annual general assembly, the Central American bishops criticized Mexico’s new anti-immigration policies and rose to Pope Francis’s defense amid what they said have been false and hostile attacks following the Synod of Bishops on the Amazon.

By Elise Harris
Bishops struggle to put out fires across a Latin America ‘in flames’
- Nov 28, 2019
As political tensions mount in several countries throughout Latin America and local crises risk spinning out of control, the bishops in the region are trying desperately to get ahead of the game and calm all parties before things boil over.

By Elise Harris

Guatemalan bishops’ ministry: Bad idea to send asylum-seekers to jungle
- Nov 21, 2019
The Guatemalan bishops’ migrant ministry has rejected talk of the U.S. and Guatemalan governments sending asylum-seekers to a remote and rugged jungle region rife with drug cartel activities. The bishops said conditions there are not secure for Guatemalan citizens, much less migrants.

By David Agren
Honduran bishops denounce drug cartel incursion into politics
- Oct 16, 2019
The Honduran bishops’ conference said narcotics trafficking has permeated the Central American country’s institutions and accused politicians of colluding with organized crime.

By David Agren
Panama celebrates its black Christ, part of protest against colonialism and slavery
- Oct 12, 2019
Panama’s “Festival del Cristo Negro,” the festival of the “Black Christ,” is an important religious holiday for local Catholics. It honors a dark, life-sized wooden statue of Jesus, “Cristo Negro” – also known as “El Nazaraeno,” or “The Nazarene.”

By S. Kyle Johnson, Boston College