The archbishop of San José, José Rafael Quirosresponded to the President of the Republic, Rodrigo Chavesfor the auction of radio and TV frequencies.
“The Church does not enter into the logic of personal disqualifications“said the Catholic leader, after Chaves alluded to him in his weekly conference, suggesting that he did not know his last name and that he controls “all that,” in reference to Catholic radio stations. He added that “there are people, everywhere, There are people like Monsignor Quirós“.
The archbishop said in this regard: “Our pastoral mission requires respect, prudence and serenity. The word we offer seeks to build, never divide. Therefore, we will not respond on a personal level, because “We firmly believe that the country needs responsible dialogue and height in public debate”.
Four media outlets from the Costa Rican Catholic Church were left out from the auction: Radio Fides and San José TVboth from the Archdiocese of San José, as well as Radio Santa Claraof the Diocese of San Carlos, and Radio Sinaifrom the Diocese of San Isidro de El General.
Rodrigo Chaves referred to another Catholic station that did participate in the auction: Radio Mariabut this It is not part of any of the diocesesbut is linked to an international organization.
The archbishop of San José also said in his response: “We will continue to express our concerns with transparency and a sense of service.
“In matters of national interest—such as the process of granting radio and television frequencies— We will continue to point out, with respect and firmness, what we consider important for plurality, freedom of expression and the common good. We will always do so from our vocation to accompany the Costa Rican people.”
The Archdiocese reiterated its commitment to social peace, institutional respect and “the construction of a democratic coexistence in which all voices can be heard.”
Sutel set a base price of $386.000 to compete for FM radio frequencies national coverage; $1.6 million for national coverage television and between $157.629 y $325.044 for television frequencies regional.
What Rodrigo Chaves said
Chaves attacked the archbishop of San José
When defending the auction of radio and TV frequencies, President Rodrigo Chaves questioned the archbishop: “Radio María throws me away every day. Thanks to monsignor, what is it? The one who controls all that, the one Saint Joseph? Radio María pulls me every day, Catholic stations pull me every day, that’s fine.”
The president added that he spoke with the deputy Fabricio Alvarado: “Under no point of view – that is very clear to me – are we going to impede the work of evangelization and persuasion (to religious stations).”
Chaves continued with his criticism of the Catholic leader: “I called those radio stations, including the ones that give me, thank you, Monsignor Quirós, for all the editorials that you send me every day. And I’m not talking about the Catholic Church, I am talking about Monsignor Quirós and the stations that he controls.
“I invited them all, but since there are two bills… My respects to all Catholics, I was educated at the Seminary College, by priests, but there are people, everywhere, There are people like Monsignor Quirós”, Chaves said.
Concerned Catholic Church
The Episcopal Conference had expressed, last Monday, November 24, concern about the amounts set by the Superintendency of Telecommunications (Sutel) to compete for radio frequencies.
“Communicative plurality is sustained by the diversity of projects that, from different convictions and perspectives, enrich democratic life. Defending its existence is defending the possibility that Costa Rica hears all its voices, not only those that come from economic power,” said a statement from the president of the Episcopal Conference of Costa Rica, Javier Román Arias.
Román, also bishop of Limón, stated that he does not intend to intervene in technical or economic disputes, but from ethics he seeks to illuminate public decisions that can affect the social fabric.freedom of expression and citizens’ access to communication plural.
Román described the auction of frequencies as a matter that is not minor, since it is a public resource that sustains the democratic life of the country.
“Freedom of expression is not protected only by avoiding censorship; it is also protected by guaranteeing conditions for diverse voices to exist. A society where only the media with the most economic resources survive It is a society that listens less, that learns less, that dialogues less.s”, dice.
The bishop called not to reduce the frequencies to the highest bidder now think in a model that recognizes the human and social dimension of communication.
“Taking care of the frequencies is not taking care of an institution. It is taking care of the right of our people to a free, diverse, responsible word and deeply human,” he concluded.
