Morales criticizes church hierarchy

President Evo Morales said some members of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy are behaving as if they were in ''the times of the Inquisition'' Tuesday as he defended his government's plan to remove Catholicism as the sole religion taught in schools.

Morales' comments came a day after Education Minister Félix Patzi referred to Catholic ''monsignors'' as ''liars'' and said they have been serving the oligarchy for the 514 years since Spain colonized the country.

''I want to ask the [church] hierarchies that they understand freedom of religion and beliefs in our country,'' Morales told reporters. ``It's not possible to impose their views.''