by Rod Hughes

In a surprise move yesterday, the Catholic Church of Costa Rica announced its support of the referendum on the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA), the English-language weekly The Tico Times reported on its Web site.

The referendum, Costa Rica’s first popular vote on an issue instead of for fixed-term public offices, was hailed by Francisco Ulloa, the president of the Episcopal Conference, as “an effective mechanism to reach a national agreement” on this most controversial issue, reported the newspaper.

Friday, President Oscar Arias announced the government backing for the referendum, thus putting it on a fast track. The Supreme Elections Tribunal, an independent elections watchdog, has 90 days to place the ballot before the public if at least 29 members of the Legislative Assemby (congress) ratify it.

The Episcopal conference called on the media to be objective and open to the expression of all opinions on the important issue, adding that it would urge all believers to get out and vote.

Roman Catholicism is the official religion in Costa Rica and it is not unusual for the Church to throw its influence behind public issues, although often its counsels are ignored by elected officials.

(See past CAFTA coverage on this newsfeed.)