AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Priests concerned about the country’s situation make an appeal for reconciliation, unity, and peace

Wednesday, 9 July 2008

Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) - At the close of their 23rd Annual Assembly, the diocesan priests have sent a message to the faithful expressing their concern for the country’s situation, indicate their commitment to the people, and ask the population to pray for their priests. The Assembly was attended by 150 diocesan priests who reflected on the theme of Church-State relations.
The Message reads: “As it would any Bolivian citizen, the complex situation our country is experiencing troubles us. There is widespread poverty, an uncertain future for many Bolivians, division within the country, verbal and moral violence among some political and civic leaders, widespread illegality in the political and social spheres, a rise in the cost of family living that mostly affects those families with little economic resources, violence employed as a means to solving social problems, dishonest political actions that harm human needs and aspirations, the manipulation of social platforms as pressure groups, and ideological tendencies that encourage the spread of secularism.”
Thus, faced with this situation, the priests ask the nation’s leaders “to attend to public demands with honesty and transparency, and to make a favorable contribution in problem solving.” They also mention the importance and urgency with which all authorities should “procure the common good, based upon the values of truth, justice, harmony, and peace.”
Addressing the Bolivian people, they ask that they “collaborate without political interests in fulfilling their responsibilities, working for equal opportunity and the general welfare of all Bolivians.”
“As pastors of the Church, we reaffirm our pastoral commitment and our vocation to serve all Bolivians,” the priests said, expressing their concern for “the living conditions of many abandoned families who have been excluded and ignored in their pain and misery, in contradiction to the Father’s plan. They demand from us a greater commitment in service to the culture of life, social justice, human rights, and social peace.” The priests later manifest their intention to continue walking alongside the people, “dedicating all our life’s efforts to them and sharing in their struggles and hopes, just as Jesus’ did with the poor.”
Concluding their message, they unite themselves to the Bishops’ appeal “to reconciliation, unity, and peace,” and ask that all join in praying “to the God of Life, that He may grant us harmony and growth as a community.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 09/07/2008)


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