NEWS & VIEWS
from a CATHOLIC perspective

      GUATEMALA CITY (CWNews.com) - Guatemalan military leaders on Tuesday criticized a human rights group for its claim that soldiers were responsible for the April 26 murder of Auxiliary Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera.

      A statement issued on Tuesday said Factor Mendez should present evidence of his claims to prosecutors rather than simply making public claims. Bishop Gerardi was killed two days after presenting a report which blamed the military for most of the deaths during the country's 36-year civil war. Although initial suspicions pointed toward retribution, prosecutors eventually arrested and charged a priest who lived with the bishop at the time.

      Mendez said his activist group has "irrefutable documents" pointing to military involvement.