CORREA CLASHES WITH CHURCH ON CONSTITUTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L QUITO 000732

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/08/2028
TAGS: PGOV EC
SUBJECT: CORREA CLASHES WITH CHURCH ON CONSTITUTION

Classified By: Charge Doug Griffiths for reason 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary: Ecuador's conservative Catholic Church
leadership has emerged as a key opponent of the draft
constitution. The Church's Episcopal Conference was quick to
voice its disapproval of the articles concerning the right to
life, the definition of a family, and freedom of education.
Its position is sure to influence some of its followers in
this 90% Catholic country, but has irritated other, more
liberal Catholics. President Correa lashed out fiercely in
response, accusing the Church of distributing false
information. End summary

CHURCH'S POSITION


2. (SBU) The Church's Episcopal Conference has expressed
four concerns with Ecuador's draft constitution:

-- Perceived ambiguity of the article on whether the right to
life begins at conception. The constitutional text reads:
"The State will recognize and guarantee life, including care
and protection from conception."

-- Definition of family called into question. The
constitutional draft replaces the phrase "typical family" in
the 1998 constitution with "types of families", which could
be interpreted to include a homosexual union.

-- Contradictory articles on religious education. Although
the constitution recognizes freedom of education, another
article gives the State the right to determine what can and
cannot be taught.

-- Lack of clarity on whether the State's role is to serve
the people and society (as the Church believes) or vice versa.


3. (C) Constitutional provisions on abortion generated hot
debate during the Constituent Assembly, and caused a fissure
in the President's political movement. The President himself
stepped in to broker the language that was eventually
approved. However, the vagueness of the approved text,
coupled with a subsequent article that gives women control
over their fertility, has given the opposition a rare "hook"
to generate opposition to the draft constitution.


4. (C) The Church leadership argues that it has a
responsibility to educate its flock on important issues
facing society. Indeed, the Church's catechism on the draft
constitution comments favorably on a number of the
constitutional provisions, particularly those concerning
social justice questions, equality and access to health care.
These positive observations have been overwhelmed by the
media's attention to the critiques, attention that has been
fanned by the president's sharp criticism of the Church's
catechism and leadership.


5. (C) The Church hierarchy has stated that it will not
campaign for or against the constitution. Episcopal
Conference president Monsignor Arregui told Charge that he
and other members of the Church hierarchy were merely focused
on educating the faithful on Church doctrine. Many Catholic
churches throughout Ecuador devoted attention to
constitutional issues during their August 2-3 masses. For
example, San Gabriel Church in Quito distributed flyers
highlighting the Episcopal Conference's concerns. At the end
of the mass, the priest devoted several minutes to discussing
the issues. One third of the congregation left as they
disagreed with the views presented. In Guayaquil, the
faithful have been outraged by desecration of two churches.

CORREA'S COUNTERATTACK


6. (C) The notoriously thin-skinned President responded
angrily to the Church's criticism of the draft Constitution.
Himself a devout Catholic, he has accused the Catholic Church
of being infiltrated with priests who are distributing false
information. In his August 2 radio address, Correa read
articles of the draft constitution to defend it against the
arguments of the Church leadership. He pointed out that the
constitution recognizes the family as the union between a man
and a woman. Correa argued that on some issues, the Church
is 300 years out of date, and highlighted the dissent of some
priests, who have refused to preach against the draft
constitution. The Episcopal Conference's interpretation,
according to Correa, is the product of the corrupt elite
exerting its influence over the Catholic Church. Other
Cabinet members and the Constituent Assembly president have
weighed in as well. Bishop Arregui told the Charge that he
was outraged by the President's personal attack and would not
be cowered. Indeed, he organized a meeting of bishops to
enforce Church teaching on the constitution. Arregui also
said that he would cooperate closely with evangelical
churches in opposition to the draft constitution.

COMMENT


7. (C) President Correa is right to be concerned over the
Catholic Church's criticism. Ecuador's highly conservative
Church is a worthy foe in the battle over the draft
constitution. Approximately 90% of Ecuadorians are at least
nominally Catholic, and a recent poll found that 65% of the
respondents have much or some confidence in the Catholic
Church, the highest of any institution. Correa's sharp
attacks on the Church and on individual prelates may only
strengthen the opposition. However, we understand from
sources in the Prosecutor General's office that the GOE has
some information that the Church made windfall profits by
buying property at a steep discount after the 1998 banking
crash. Correa may intend to use this information to tarnish
the Church hierarchy with accusations that they are in
cahoots with the discredited former leaders in Ecuador.
Given the respect of the Church in Ecuadorian society, this
would be a high-risk strategy.

CDA Griffiths