AMERICA/COLOMBIA - “As the Church we promise to collaborate with you to build a reconciled Colombia and to promote the common good”: Bishops appeal to new national leaders after elections on 28 October

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - "We congratulate those elected and we hope they will work to promote the cause of peace. As the Church we promise to collaborate with you to build a reconciled Colombia and to promote the common good”. This was part of a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Colombia entitled "Peace: a commitment which cannot be postponed", following municipal and local administration elections held on Sunday 28 October.
The Bishops recall that the most elementary level of peace is the absence of war, but there are higher levels such as "living in social harmony, peace as friendly and health co-existence among people, peace as quality and fullness of live and the fullest peace, granted as a gift of God revealed in Christ". The Bishops admit that Colombia "has yet to reach the most elementary level: the absence of fratricidal conflict" and consequent "weakening of a humanitarian sense, general lack of trust and discouragement in the face of present day difficulties".
In this situation the Bishops say "it is easier to call for an armed solution than dialogue", and they urge newly elected persons "to show new boldness in favour of peace, new creativity to find paths of peace, a new style which leads people to walk the paths of justice and reconciliation". They recall that the people aspire to peace and security not only guaranteed by the army or by political measures, but instead, security "built from within, with a moral quality, built by hearts which love beyond frontiers and see every man and woman as a brother and sister for whom they are responsible." The Bishops conclude stressing the need to "encourage a culture of peace based on an upright life and moral conscience". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 30/10/2007; righe 24, parole 350)