Colombian Green Party presidential candidate Antanas Mockus on Monday denied accusations that he is an atheist, stating “I am Catholic, I was an acolyte and I am almost a priest.”
“It’s one thing to not go to Mass, it’s another thing to be an atheist,” Mockus said, adding that his life has been “marked” by an “intense” relationship with the church.
The Green Party made these statements in the face of a smear campaign which paints him as a treacherous, Chavez-loving atheist.
Banners featuring the Green Party’s official logo of a sunflower on a green background were plastered around Cali with slogans such as “I would extradite Uribe,” “I admire Hugo Chavez,” and “I don’t believe in God.”
The “atheist” banner follows comments by Mockus’ main rival Juan Manuel Santos that one of the main differences between himself and the Green Party candidate is that Santos believes in God.
Voter polls suggest support for Mockus is stabilizing, after he shot into the spotlight several weeks ago.
The latest poll places Santos, who last week revamped his campaign strategy, as retaking the lead in Colombia’s race for the presidency.
Colombian will head to the polls May 30 to elect their next president.