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Colombia: Parish Priest from Jongovito Bans Patron Saint Festivities

· Written by Cati Restrepo Translated by Silvia Viñas

Categories: Latin America, Colombia, Arts & Culture, Citizen Media, Religion

On June 2 the news spread that the priest from the parish Jongovito from the city of San Juan de Pasto had issued a decree against the celebration of the Patron Saint [1] festivities of San Pedro y San Pablo [es] [2] (which take place on June 29). Colombia has traditionally been a country with strong Catholic traditions. This is reflected in the credibility that priests have inside communities, in the work they do in a significant amount of rural communities, and in the opinions they express in regards to issues related to the administration of the country. They are not the ones that govern of course, the Colombian constitution allows for freedom of religion, but it must be acknowledged that the clergy is still a strong influence in certain social contexts.

The decree immediately generated a reaction from the blog La lógica de mi papá (My Father’s Logic). There, Madame_Web references the text from the decree under which the aforementioned prohibition is mentioned [es]: [3]

Hoy llegó a mi manos, gracias a @Hecolehome, el DECRETO No. 036/2010 de la Diócesis de Pasto en el cual decreta:

“Separar la fiesta patronal de todo acto que no contribuya en nada para la edificación de la persona humana y de la comunidad cristiana, como son: verbenas populares, festivales bailables y todo aquello que cause escándalo en las personas de bien.”

Today thanks to @Hecolehome I have in my hands Decree Number 036/2010 from the Diocese of Pasto, which decrees:

“Separate the festivities from every act that doesn’t contribute in any way to the edification of the human being and the Christian community, such as: popular open-air festivals, festivals with dancing and all other things that cause scandalous behavior from proper people”

Madame_Web expressed her unconformity towards the measure:

La ultima genial idea del hombrecito en cuestión es que no se celebren las fiestas de San Pedro y San Pablo (..) Que no se le olvide señor párroco que la iglesia y los santos no son de su propiedad…pertenecen a la comunidad de Jongovito que año tras año celebra la fiesta y que además tiene que aguantarse a personajes como usted, si como usted, que no le cabe ni la mas mínima idea en la cabeza.

The latest brilliant idea from the man in question (the parish priest) is to not celebrate the festivities of San Pedro and San Pablo (…) May the parish priest never forget that the church and its saints are not his property…they belong to the community of Jongovito which year after year celebrates the festivities and also has to put up with characters like yourself, yes like you, who can’t fit even the smallest idea in your head.

Danzantes Jongovito - Pasto [4]
Danzantes Jongovito – Pasto (Dancers at Jongovito – Pasto) Image by Cátedra Qhapac Ñan, Universidad de Nariño, used with permission)

Opinions generally against the decree where also published through Twitter, arguing that the festivities represent the history and culture of the community.

Pastas (@Pastas [5]) wrote:

Armando estrategia con el #clancuytter [6] para enseñarle la historia de las fiestas patronales de Nariño al obispo de Pasto. Tocó evangelizarlo

Coming up with a strategy with #clancuytter [6] to teach the priest from Pasto the history of the Patron Saint festivities of Nariño. We will have to evangelize him.

Pastas also responded to other Twitter users who asked how much influence the Church had over the people:

@Cyberjuan [7] Mucho, tienen temor. Alguien contactó a @Hecolehome [8] para q a través de nuestro grupo de investigación ayudaramos a solucionar eso. 2:04 PM Jun 2nd [9] via TweetDeck [10]

@Cyberjuan [7] A lot, they are scared. Someone contacted @Hecolehome [8] so that we help solve this through our investigation group http://bit.ly/dfbLpi [11]

@mrmuller [12] Claro paisano hay q sentar al obispo y aclararle la dinámica de las comunidades para q no imponga doctrinas de hace 500 años atras. 11:33 AM Jun 2nd [13] via TweetDeck [10] responding to mrmuller [14]

@mrmuller [12] Of course compatriot you have to sit the bishop down and clarify the community's dynamic so that he doesn't impose doctrines from 500 years back  11:33 AM Jun 2nd [13] via TweetDeck [10] responding to mrmuller [14]

@miranchurito [15] Si, yo soy calmada. Pero cosas como estas me sacan de casillas. Uno trabajando en pro del Patrimonio y vea… 11:55 AM Jun 2nd [16] via TweetDeck [10] en respuesta a miranchurito [17]

@miranchurito [15] Yes, I’m a comrade. But these things drive me crazy. One works for the Patrimony and look…11:55 AM Jun 2nd [16] via TweetDeck [10] responding to miranchurito [17]

Madame_web (@madame_web [18]) said:

¿Que es una persona de bien? yo soy una persona de bien y a mi me gusta el escandalo y los festivales bailables http://bit.ly/dfbLpi [11]

What is a proper person? I’m a proper person and I like scandal and festivals with dancing http://bit.ly/dfbLpi [11]

Mrmuller (@mrmuller [14]), talking with @madame_web and @Pastas answered:

madame_web [19] @Pastas [20] ojalá se opongan y comprendan que la cultura es más importante que lo que diga un padrecito

@madame_web [19] @Pastas [20] hopefully you oppose this and understand that culture is more important than what a priest says

Finally, the official municipality’s administration site provides a promotional video of the festivities of Jongovito [es] [21].

And the Youtube channel ArturoBando, shows a sample of the dances in the festivities [es] [22]: