Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Punta di Tralca (Agenzia Fides) - "Let us make room for dialogue" is the title of a statement issued by the Catholic Bishops of Chile at the end of a four day plenary assembly 19 to 22 November of which the main task was to "prepare the Pastoral Guidelines which will guide the Church in Chile for the next five years", in the light of the impulse given by 5th General Conference of the Council of Bishops' Conferences of Latin America and the Caribbean in Aparecida and the First National Ecclesial Assembly held in Chile.
The Bishops say dialogue is the principal path to solve existing conflicts. They encourage all people of good will to "strive to reach agreements to promote dialogue and to be open to dialogue, as well as their legitimate ideological options or the interests they represent". "Dialogue would appeal to be the compulsory path to overcome the present concerning deterioration of day to day co-existence", the Bishops' Statement affirms
The Bishops also voice concern for the "many situations of violence in homes and other expressions of violence which destabilise every day life. We cannot resign ourselves to the fact that violence is used to solve difficulties when dialogue fails". Education is one of the country's most urgent challenges: "education to authentic culture of peace is an urgent task for the happiness of families and the integral development of children and young people".
The Bishops conclude expressing sadness "for a persists anti life attitude" and they reiterate the appeal to "government and members of parliament to welcomed and protect life from the moment of conception to natural end". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/11/2007; righe 23, parole 290)
