In response to the increasing attempts by criminals to use churches for money laundering, the Costa Rican Evangelical Alliance Federation organized an event to equip pastors with prevention tools, according to the newspaper La Teja. The initiative brought together some 250 pastors and church representatives from all over the country and was attended by leading experts on legal and financial matters.
Speakers included Pastor Ronald Vargas, president of the Evangelical Alliance; Raúl Escalante, a constitutional lawyer; and Henry González, a prosecutor and legal advisor to the Alliance. Representatives from the Costa Rican Institute on Drugs and the Ministry of Finance also attended the event and offered their support on questions related to tax matters.
Recently, an alleged pastor named Barboza Pilarte was arrested by the Judicial Investigation Agency of Costa Rica on suspicion of laundering drug money. Barboza used the tithes and offerings of his church as a front to legitimize the illicit funds, reported La Republica newspaper.
“We strongly reject any involvement of our leaders in illegal activities, especially those related to money laundering and organized crime. Such actions seriously damage the reputation of the churches and our community,” said the Evangelical Alliance at the time.
During the training aimed at pastors and churches, Ronald Vargas emphasized the importance of the initiative, noting that, "This initiative reflects the Evangelical Alliance's commitment to supporting pastors in managing their congregations with integrity and responsibility. As children of God, we believe in doing things transparently and with excellence."
The event also featured a video message from Laura Fernandez, Minister of the Presidency, who affirmed the Evangelical Alliance for promoting this type of meeting. "On behalf of the Government of the Republic, we are pleased that the Evangelical Alliance is promoting these initiatives that encourage good practices. You can count on our support to continue working together for a better Costa Rica," said Fernandez.
The Ministry of Finance offered its support to the churches to guide them in the proper management of their finances. José Mario Ruiz, advisor to the General Directorate of Taxation, said, "We are fully open to working in unity with the churches and providing the necessary support."
During the meeting, the speakers presented strategies for pastors to properly manage the finances of their congregations from different perspectives, providing practical advice on legal and financial questions. "We explained how to adopt measures to safeguard churches and help leaders navigate the financial challenges they face," explained Raúl Escalante.
The event represents a significant step for the Evangelical Alliance in its efforts to ensure the transparent and secure management of resources in the country's religious communities.
First published by Diario Cristiano, Christian Daily International's Spanish edition.
