Costa Rica Lives in Poverty and Misery, According to Archbishop of San José
"In my visit to sixty six churches in the Archdiosis of San José, especially in the south side, I have found much poverty and misery. I have discovered that there are various Costa Ricas. One, impenetrable, of big mansions and luxurious homes, lived in by people living in another world. The other, of simple people, accessible, that have roots in farmers, poor people but ready to give a helping hand. And another Costa Rica, who live in "precarios" - shacks on hillsides - almost in caves, in extreme poverty, away from the goods and services that the country has achieved; this unknown Costa Rica, is the other Costa Rica', were the words of San José Archbishop Monseñor Hugo Barrantes Ureña in homage on August 2 in Cartago.

Attending the Eucharist were members of the Conferencia Episcopal de Costa Rica, the Supreme Powers, Diplomats, invited guests and hundreds of devout catholics of the Patron of Costa Rica.

The Monseñor emphasized that each day the gap grows between those that have and the have nots.

"For the poor, we are not talking just inequality, but, rather open exclusion. The poor are excluded from the well being of the economic growth of the country", added the Monseñor.

Monseñor Barrantes added that he was aware, but not to the degree he found, that there existed "first world" education for some and the rest for the others.

The Monseñor also plauded President Abel Pacheco for his efforts in reducing poverty and eradicating corruption in the public sector.