Evangelical and Catholic Christians provoked something never before seen at the Cristo del Consuelo Easter procession in Guayaquil: a fight over religious doctrine. 

The use of religious imagery and the convocation to a pilgrimage brought the Catholics together, and was protested by the Evangelicals.

Both groups consider the Easter weekend holy, and follow the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, but differ over traditions and representations of worship.

It is traditional for Catholics to carry a representative figure of the crucified Christ down the streets on Good Friday. In Guayaquil’s Suburbio neighbourhood, the Cristo del Consuelo procession has been happening for 54 years, and this is the first time it’s attracted a protest.

About 30 evangelical Christians showed up outside the Catholic Espiritu Santo church, to “teach the real Biblical truth about idolatry.” They cited Bible verses like Exodus 20:2-5, Ezekiel 14:6 and 1 Corinthians 6:9.

The Catholics did not take the gesture as a Bible lesson, but as an offense. They started yelling insults at each other, and sooner or later blows were flying back and forth.

Police had to intervene.

Evangelical pastor William Salazar says the protest was to teach Catholics about the truths in the Bible.

“We wanted people to see that God isn’t in their images.”

Catholic priest Rómulo Aguilar chastised the protestants: “It’s dangerous fanaticism, and a lack of respect for people. They are audacious and irresponsible. The Bible speaks of love, not confrontation.”

Original story