Bolivian President Evo Morales has called for change within the country's Catholic Church, accusing it of acting as in the "times of the Inquisition".

Mr Morales said Catholic leaders should understand the need for freedom of religion and belief.

His government recently announced plans to teach a range of religions in schools, as well as native traditions.

Church leaders have opposed the planned changes, calling on Catholics to defend their faith.

"I want to ask the [Church] hierarchies that they understand freedom of religion and beliefs in our country," Mr Morales said.

"It's not possible to impose their views. I am very worried by the behaviour of some Catholic Church leaders, who act like in the time of the Inquisition."

He insisted Bolivia would continue to respect the Church.

He spoke out after Catholic leaders criticised the planned reforms, which would break the long-standing dominance of Catholicism in Bolivian schools.

'Liars'

The archbishop of Santa Cruz, Cardinal Julio Terrazzas, said on Sunday that Catholics were being "passive" in the face of Mr Morales' planned changes.

"Great wars begin with small theories... with this discourse of hate, of rancour, of unforgiveness," he said.

On Sunday the country's education minister, Felix Patzi, said Catholic leaders were "lying" over claims that the government was aiming to destroy the Church.

However, he said the planned changes would allow Bolivians to break down "ethnic borders" that have marginalised native traditions for more than 500 years, the Associated Press reported.

A majority of Bolivians describe themselves as Catholic, according to census figures.

After the Roman Catholic Church consolidated its power across Europe in the 12th and 13th Century, it set up the Inquisition to ensure that heretics did not undermine that authority.

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I actually let out a little cheer when I read this. I'm glad more people are waking up and learning more to understand rather then blindly hate/discriminate like the Chruch does.

This is normal Christian behavior; the rule, not the exception.

It's not fair, you either teach em about all religions, or just don't teach em at all, simple as that.

Religion should be an elective in school not something you are forced to take.

Although if they teach religion in school they would also have to teach us about Aliens, Bigfoot, Ghosts, etc.

Agree to that.



Don't agree with that. Supposedly through religion is do we know God. Do we know God through aliens, or bigfoot, or w/e?

The point of going to school is to get educated...if kids are going to be taught about religion which is basically mythology schools would have to teach every kind of mythology. Which would include Bigfoot and Aliens.

I agree they would also have to teach kids about all religions...including pagan, satanic, eqyptian, native american, and the roman/greek gods.

I think they should teach all different religions also that god might not exist. Then they have a choice and i do hope they are able to break the ethnic borders.

According to you it's mythology, according to me it's kind of true.