Home > Augustinian Missions > Church at Work in Peru > U.S. Bishops & Death Threats against Bishop Turley, O.S.A.

U.S. Bishops Concerned Over Death Threats
against Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has expressed its concern over death threats against Augustinian Bishop Daniel Turley, O.S.A. of Chulucanas, Peru.

Plans to open a large copper mine in Huancabamba, a mountain section of the Chulucanas Diocese, have been strongly opposed by farmers and others living in the area and downstream of the proposed mine. They fear that the mine will contaminate the rivers on which they depend, making them useless for drinking, bathing and irrigating their crops, thus destroying their livelihoods.

The mining company and the Peruvian government cite the jobs that the mine will provide, and promise that the mine will be environmentally responsible.

Bishop Turley has worked to promote dialogue in order to find a peaceful resolution to this situation. But because he has sought to ensure that area residents have a voice in the dialogue, some proponents of the mine have labelled Bishop Turley as an enemy.

In a September 11, 2007 letter to Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo, Peru, president of the Confernece of Peruvian Bishops, Bishop William S. Skylstad, U.S.C.C.B. President, cited Bishop Turley's history as a peacemaker and as a promoter of the rights of all people, including the poor farmers in his Diocese. He expressed concern that a Bishop as respected as Bishop Turley should be subjected to death threats.

More information

       » Read the U.S.C.C.B. news release about Bishop Turley (Opens new window)

       » Read the letter of Bishop Skylstad in support of Bishop Turley (.pdf file - New window)

       » Mining referendum has emotions running high in northern Peru (CNS) (Opens new window)

       » Río Blanco: History of a Mismatch in Peru (Oxfam) (Opens new window)

       » Communities Say ‘No’ to Mining Company in Vote (IPS) (Opens new window)

       » Catholics Line Up Against Mining Operations in Peru (NCR) (Opens new window)

Learn More about the Augustinian Missions in Peru

• The Church at Work in Northern Peru

         » Making Much with Little
               Grassroots Pastoral Plan in the Catholic Diocese of Chulucanas, Peru

         » Social and Economic Development
               Helping the poor to help themselves in Northern Peru

         » Pastoral Journeys in Pacaipampa
               Travelling to remote Peruvian mountain villages to bring Christ to the people

         » The Bishop Visits
               Pastoral visits in Peru are a time of special blessing

         » Augustinians Return to San José Obrero
               Friars resume ministry in Chulucanas parish after five-year absence

• Children of Peru

         » Children of Peru: The Working Child
               Peruvian children must work to help their family make ends meet

         » Children of Peru: The Child at School
               The life of a young student in the mountains of Peru

         » Heart to Heart Project
               Helping poor Peruvian children to remain in school