Belize/Guatemala Clergy Seeks to Broker the Peace

Christopher Glancy

Last weekend, Guatemalan Archbishop Oscar Julio Vian openly spoke out against the government of President Jimmy Morales for seeking to use the territorial claim as a smokescreen to divert attention away from issues that are plaguing Guatemala.  It is a sentiment that is shared by others in that country.  Nonetheless, the membership of the Belize Council of Churches, has reached out to religious counterparts in Guatemala.  Bishop Christopher Glancy, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, is in discussion with Archbishop Vian to organize an event that would bring together congregations from the neighboring countries.

Bishop Christopher Glancy, Roman Catholic Church

“In the media this week, there was reporting here in Belize that the Archbishop of Guatemala City and what he said in preaching about the situation.  I called him yesterday.  I know Archbishop Oscar Julio Vian.  I thanked him for his words and I said that we were interested in looking at how we could pray together and work as a church in neighboring countries.  We’re exploring those possibilities and what we might be able to do together.  But since it hasn’t been set yet, I don’t want to make any announcements further than that other than we are in dialogue.  I also made a call to the president of the Bishop’s Conference, Bishop Rudolfo Valensuela, we were back and forth playing phone tag so I didn’t actually talk to him but did send him an email about the situation as well.  [He’s] another of the bishops over there that I do know and so we’re already in dialogue.  I know Bishop Wright, Bishop Phillip Wright has also sent communication to his counterpart in the Anglican Church there in Guatemala.  So there is some ongoing dialogue on what we can do, how can we work together both to pray for peace and to build stronger relationships between the peoples of our countries.”