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Priest removed from Atalaya

A march is planned for today to protest changes made to the Jesus of Nazarene statue.

la prensa

churchgoers in atalaya1146504

Authorities of the Catholic Church in Veraguas were forced to replace the priests who officiate in Atalaya because of the ongoing controversy surrounding the restoration of the Jesus of Nazarene Statue.

The church assigned Isaías Hernández and Reginio Aguilar to officiate services yesterday after parishioners warned that they would not let Gilberto Hernández, who ordered the restoration, back inside the church.

On Saturday, Gilberto Hernández was prevented from conducting baptisms at the church, prompting police to be called to the site.

Police remained on duty yesterday to prevent any further problems. They were keeping an eye on the hundreds of people who have been holding vigils outside the church in silent protest of the changes made to the statue. The parishioners held candles and photos of the revered statue, which is considered the holiest relic in the community.

Today, the Committee for the Defense of the Interests of the People of Atalaya plans to hold a protest march at 2 p.m. They are demanding that the statue be returned to its original state.

Church leaders have declined to discuss the situation, which arose after a local artist was commissioned to restore the statue.

The restorer apparently changed the figure, which ignited a series of protests within the community.

Experts have put the cost of restoring the statue at several thousand dollars, money that Gilberto Hernández thought he was saving when he paid the local artist a few hundred dollars to do the work.

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