Claims over land grants to churches

CLAIMS of unconstitutionality over the granting of land to two churches in Casco Viejo were filed  with the Supreme Court on Monday January 11.

The two claims are against decisions made by the National Authority of Land Management (Anati) regarding historic religious sites  Anati decisions were made in July 2013 and April 2015, and both dealt with churches in San Felipe.

The July 2013 decision awarded the land to the Catholic Church where the Nuestra Señora de la Merced Church and the Metropolitan Cathedral of Panama are located.

The April 2015 decision allocated the land to the church where San Jose Church, the St. Francis of Assisi Church and the Santo Domingo Church are located.

The claims were brought by Miguel Antonio Bernal on behalf of Ana Elena Porras.

Porras said that these decisions violate the Constitution in relation to cultural matters. She said thesites belong to the nation and cannot be assigned to individuals or an entity such as the church reports La Prensa..