The conference of Jesuit provincials in Latin America and the Caribbean have released an open letter to the international community defending Jesuit Ismael Moreno, commonly known as “Padre Melo,” against “grave threats,” saying they hold Honduran president “Juan Orlando Hernández and his allies responsible for the safety and physical and moral well-being” of Father Moreno and eight other regional leaders.
An anonymous flyer has been circulating on social media accusing Father Moreno and other regional leaders of having ties to criminal organizations and drug cartels and of inciting violence and destruction among Hondurans.
Father Moreno is the director of Radio Progreso, a Jesuit-run radio station featured in the America documentary "La Voz del Pueblo," and the Reflection, Investigation and Communication Team (ERIC), a Jesuit social action and analysis center.
“I am convinced that [the flyer] is a campaign of stigmatization and criminalization against defenders of human rights and the opposition that originates in circles of the government itself,” Father Moreno said in a statement to America. “In my case, this attempt to implicate me in drug trafficking has been going on for at least a year and has the purpose of provoking a criminal action against me.”
The threats and the letter come on the heels of a contentious presidential election in Honduras. The incumbent, Juan Orlando Hernández, was declared the victor despite the call for new elections from the Organization of American States.
A cycle of protests in the aftermath of the election left at least 30 people dead, according to observers.
Radio Progreso, which reaches more than 1.5 million listeners, has been strongly critical of the election and the violent response to civilian protesters. The morning of Dec. 10, Radio Progreso woke to find one of its antenas fallen. After initially suspecting weather to have caused the fall, a technician discovered that screws had been loosened. Father Moreno blamed President Hernández and his allies for the destruction.
The letter, signed by the Roberto Jaramillo, S.J., compares the flyer to the “Be a patriot—kill a priest” graffiti that was common in the days before the murder of Jesuit Rutilio Grande in El Salvador.
While the current flyer lacks a clear call for murder, Matt Ippel, S.J., an American Jesuit scholastic studying philosophy in Lima and a close friend of Father Moreno, believes the flyer is part of a familiar pattern of suppression in Honduras.
“It starts with ignoring [oppositional voices], then it moves to delegitimization, which is where this flyer would fall under,” Mr. Ippel said. “Then to criminalization, then to assassination.” Mr. Ippel said a recent example of this pattern is found in the case of Berta Cáceres, an environmental activist and friend of Father Moreno, who was murdered in March 2016.
Although this is not the first threat made against Father Moreno or the employees of Radio Progreso/ERIC, Father Jaramillo says the threat level is uniquely high for three reasons. First, it was released around the holidays, when murders can be overlooked more easily. Second, it fuels an environment of hate in Honduran society and provides an incentive to potential vigilantes. Finally, “it is clear that Melo and all the collaborators of Radio Progreso/ERIC have become ‘a stone in the shoe’ of Juan Orlando Hernández in his [goal] to control everything in Honduras,” Father Jaramillo wrote to America.
On New Years Eve, Father Moreno posted to Twitter and Facebook that “I’m receiving accusations that put my life at risk.”
[Translation: I’m receiving accusations that put my life at risk. Is this the “open dialogue” that the President – backed by the U.S. Embassy – is talking about? Is this the dialogue that’s endorsed by the corporations, some churches and the so-called “official civil society”?]
“It is not just about Melo but all the people who are working in the ERIC and Radio Progreso’s team, more than 30 collaborators that are part of our apostolic body,” Father Jaramillo said. “[They are] mothers, fathers of families that are really committed to the work of justice, democracy and participation.”
Two employees of Radio Progreso/ERIC have been murdered in recent years: Carlos Mejía in 2014 and Nery Jeremías Orellada in 2011. And since 2009, threats have been made against 16 employees, Mr. Ippel wrote in August for The Jesuit Post.
Father Moreno has remained vocal despite the threats against him. He called on all Hondurans, starting Jan. 2, to keep up strong and constant actions of civil disobedience to “prevent an illegal, illegitimate and usurper government from the sovereign will of the people.”
[Translation: On the basis of my conscience, as a citizen and a Christian, I call on my fellow Hondurans to begin strong and constant nationwide civil disobedience actions on January 2, as a way of preventing the installation of a government which would be illegal and illegitimate, and would usurp the people’s sovereign will.]
Father Jaramillo hopes that the letter will not only help keep Father Moreno and his colleagues safe but also promote the causes they risking their safety for:
“We as the Conference for the Jesuits in Latin America must stand with them not only to defend our fellow priests and lay people that are working in the name of the Society, but especially to defend and promote the causes they are fighting for.”
Y dónde está la voz de Card. maradiaga?
I have had the privilege and pleasure of meeting Fr. Melo more than once in connection with the Jesuit Migration Network of Central and North America. He is an amazing man and priest, combining genuine faith, spirituality, connection with the people, humility, earthiness and outstanding leadership in the area of Social Justice. In 2015 he earned a human rights award from the Raftu Foundation, which he received in Norway, which recognized his crucial work for the Honduran people. One can read about this in the Honduran paper "La Prensa", http://www.laprensa.hn/honduras/883498-410/distinguen-a-sacerdote-hondure%C3%B1o-con-premio-de-derechos-humanos.
My ministry with migrants and refugees in El Paso constantly makes me aware of the grave crisis of violence, poverty and political corruption that Honduras has been enduring. The people are rightly expressing their frustration and anger at the latest fiasco of the manipulated presidential elections.
I pray for Fr. Melo and his collaborators and want to express my solidarity with him, the Jesuits there and the people of Honduras, especially the impoverished majority.
Fr. Rafael Garcia, S.J.
El Paso, Texas
St. Ignatius commanded his Jesuits to refrain from what we would call "political activism" or even political involvement of any sort. He did not want such earthly turmoil to distract from the spiritual battles being waged for souls. He understood that the soul, not the body, is the priority of the priest.