Father Rogelio Cruz yesterday accepted the government’s insistence that they had not sought his transfer to the Vatican, as has been widely reported. Cruz met with President Mejia yesterday, after which encounter the President’s Technical Secretary Sergio Grullon read out a statement saying that no such request had ever been made and that the government had always given Padre Rogelio and others working in the same field their “support and respect.” Grullon concluded by saying, “We think the country is enriched by the social and Christian commitment of its leaders and members of the community, which we value, as we respect all the initiatives aimed at improving living conditions for its inhabitants.” The Vatican’s ambassador in Santo Domingo, Papal Nuncio Timothy Broglio, confirmed that he had not received any instructions from the government concerning the transfer of Father Rogelio Cruz. Broglio called on the government to tackle the nation’s problems.