Panama: priest killed in broad daylight, in front of bishops' house

Colon, Panama - Wiki image

The Catholic community of Colon, Panama, is in shock after the body of Fr Anibal Gomez, was found at 1pm on Saturday, at the entrance of the home of retired Bishop Carlos María Ariz Bolea, CMF. He had been stabbed to death. Local sources believe he was the victim of a robbery. The criminal incident occurred in the Davis area in Colon, a port city considered particularly violent because of rampant crime.

Fr Anibal Gomez, 67, originally from Spain, was parish priest at the church of Mary Mother of God, which is located in the Jose Denominatore Bazan area, formerly Fort Davis.

Another local priest, Fr Teofilo Rodriguez, said: "We are concerned about the level of violence we have reached, a man of God was beaten to death. We found him with numerous injuries on his body and his face disfigured by blows".

The Archbishop of Panama, Mgr José Domingo Ulloa Mendieta, OSA, expressed his great sorrow over the priest’s death, and said: "It happened in broad daylight, we all have to reflect and we must all work together to stop the violence and murders that are taking place".

Source: Fides