Catholic Radio Station Features Confusing Name

A small branch of a newly arrived international Catholic radio station has confused Costa Ricans and the press with its name: Radio María.Radio María was the name of a station headed by Catholic priest Minor de Jesús Calvo, implicated, but not yet tried, in the murder of journalist Parmenio Medina in 2001. Calvo was the founder and voice of the first Radio María, which went off the air several months before Medina, who had denounced financial irregularities at the station, was shot.The new Radio María has nothing to do with Calvo’s station, assistant manager Allan Aguëllo told The Tico Times. Coincidentally, it has the same name and its content is also based on Catholic Church news and views, but the two are separate in every other way.The new Radio María got its start in Italy in 1983. It now has branches in 40 countries; Costa Rica’s branch is one of the newest.It has broadcast on AM 610 for one year, celebrating its anniversary earlier this month with an official public launching of the station. That event drew press attention and instigated the confusion about its name.Heard in Costa Rica on AM 610, the station broadcasts news about the national and worldwide Catholic Church, Christian music and prayer.Donations to help the station in its ministry can be made to the Banco de San José to account 903296226, in colones, and 901857466 in dollars. For information, call the station at 258-4848.