WASHINGTON (March 21, 2002) -- Saturday's assassination of a Colombian Archbishop was a "cowardly act," according to the President of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, who expressed solidarity with the "suffering Church of Colombia" in a letter released today.

"In the name of the Bishops of the United States, I join with you in mourning Archbishop Duarte's tragic death and express anew our solidarity with and support for you and all the suffering Church in Colombia," said Bishop Wilton D. Gregory of Belleville in a letter to his counterpart in the Colombian bishops' conference, Medellín Archbishop Alberto Giraldo Jaramillo.

Archbishop Isasís Duarte Cancino of Cali, Colombia, an outspoken critic of the 38-year civil war in Colombia, was assassinated March by unknown gunmen.

"It is my prayer that the sacrifice of this faithful Pastor will inspire ever greater unity among the faithful and strengthen the determination of all Colombians to seek the paths of peace and reconciliation," Bishop Gregory said.

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