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Colombian president apologizes to anyone offended by religious elements at inauguration
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Elections & Politics

Colombian president apologizes to anyone offended by religious elements at inauguration

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire From a news agency Outcome reported
  • Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella apologized to anyone offended by religious elements at his Aug. 7 inauguration.
  • A Bogotá labor court ordered the televised apology, ruling that the ceremony violated the state’s religious neutrality.
  • De la Espriella said Congress organized the ceremony and included a segment called “invocation,” while pledging to respect religious freedom and the separation of church and state.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella apologized after a judge ruled that religious elements at his inauguration breached the country’s constitutional neutrality toward religion.

“If this act caused discomfort or offended anyone, as head of state I offer my apologies,” De la Espriella said in a televised address. The judge had ordered him to apologize after ruling on a legal protection petition filed over the ceremony held on Aug. 7.

If this act caused discomfort or offended anyone, as head of state I offer my apologies.

— Abelardo de la EspriellaHe apologized in a televised address after a court ordered him to do so.

The judge also instructed the president to avoid conduct suggesting a preference for the Catholic Church or any other particular faith. De la Espriella said Congress had prepared the ceremony’s agenda, including a segment titled “invocation.” He said he was a believer and a Catholic, but respected the separation of church and state and would protect every Colombian’s right to practice a religion or practice none.

Although I identify as a believer and I am Catholic, I respect the separation between church and state and, within my duties, I will guarantee the freedoms and rights of all Colombians without distinction, including the freedom to profess any religion or none.

— Abelardo de la EspriellaHe responded to the ruling and defended his commitment to religious freedom.

Religious elements formed a prominent part of the ceremony at the USC Arena in Cali. Rabbi David Michaan read verses from the Old Testament and ended by calling out, “Long live Colombia and long live Israel.” Pastor Eduardo Cañas Estrada and Monsignor Francisco Múnera followed with separate appeals for terrorist attacks to end, security to return and national unity to prevail. The ceremony also included a statue of the Virgin Mary.

De la Espriella’s political support includes Catholic and evangelical churchgoers who view him as a family man opposed to abortion and what he calls “gender ideology.” Videos from more than a decade ago show him describing himself as an atheist. He has responded that he regained his faith six years ago and became a Catholic Christian.

Long live Colombia and long live Israel.

— David MichaanThe rabbi shouted the phrase after reading verses from the Old Testament during the inauguration.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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