Churches lobby for constitutional reform

Lima, Peru — As the National Congress of Peru works on drafting a new constitution, Catholics and evangelicals are pushing lawmakers to approve their own versions of Article 71 of the political charter. The article forms the basis for all laws on religion in the country. Walter Alejos, a congressman representing Ayacucho, has spearheaded the evangelical lobby for a constitution that grants all faiths equal rights. On Jan. 9, evangelicals planned “civic concentrations” in cities across Peru to show their support for reform. The theme of the demonstrations: “Equal before God; equal before the law.” Congressman Alejos’ religious affairs adviser, Fernando Bellido, said that Congress may consider Article 71 as soon as mid-January and believes the expected turnout of 1 million evangelicals standing up for equal rights should impact Congress.