Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Caracas (Agenzia Fides) - In a message addressed the Venezuelan Catholics and all men and women of good will, the Council of Priests of the archdiocese of Caracas expresses support and solidarity to Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, Archbishop of Caracas, and the whole of the Bishops' Conference, subject to misunderstanding and insults "for illuminating the present situation in the country from a point of view of the faith". The priests of Caracas say they agree with the contents of the pastoral letter "Called to Live in Freedom" (see Fides 22/10/2007) "drafted by our Bishops in the exercise of their ministry as legitimate shepherds of the Catholics treating aspects concerning fundamental rights of the human person ".
The priests reject the misunderstanding which has arisen and confirm their affective and effective communion with the Cardinal and his auxiliary bishops. "We reaffirm our desire to help build national unity putting ourselves at the service of all without discrimination or partiality, and we reject attitudes of exclusion or intolerance for political or ideological reasons. Venezuela must continue to be a country where everyone feels they are part of a shared destiny". The Message ends with a prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Coromoto: "May she who at the dawn of evangelisation promoted the encounter of the peoples of this nation, help us live as brothers and sisters around the person of Jesus Christ, the Lord of History and the Prince of Peace".
Last week Archbishop Baltazar Porras of Merida, president of the Venezuelan Bishops' Media Commission, appealed to the people to go to vote in the referendum on 2 December when they are called to approve or reject proposed constitutional reforms. Archbishop Porras urged the people not to vote "ingenuously" in this event of great importance for the whole country. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 20/11/2007; righe 26, parole 360)
