Plans to build a huge statue of Christ on a hill overlooking Tegucigalpa, the capital of Honduras, have provoked howls of protest from evangelical church leaders.
A group of wealthy Catholic business leaders announced in early May that they were planning to build a 20-meter-high statue of Christ on top of El Picacho, a mountain looming north of central Tegucigalpa.The total cost of the statue, to be constructed on public land, may run as high as half a million dollars. Church officials say the government of President Carlos Roberto Reina has promised to contribute 350 000 lempiras - about $27,000.
The group of business leaders has promised to contribute $100,000 and to raise whatever additional funds are necessary.