Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Cochabamba (Agenzia Fides) – The Bolivian Bishops' have published a Pastoral Message entitled “Called to make a conscientious, free, and responsible vote,” in which they analyze the 10 positive and the 10 most troublesome aspects of the new Constitution, which will be subject to a referendum this January 25.
Among the positive aspects, the Bishops mentioned the acknowledgment of the indigenous peoples and those sectors once marginalized; the participation of the social and civil groups in the life of the nation, the improvement of respect for rights, protection of the family, and the right to healthcare. There has also been an acknowledgment and incorporation of concepts of the Bolivian nation (Art. 3) such as common bond and Bolivian nationality; the democratic principle has been restored in the political representation of majorities and minorities in the Legislative Assembly.
Among the most worrisome aspects that the Bishops find in the new draft of the Constitution is that it does not recognize “the profound religious nature of the Bolivian people, the majority of whom practice the Christian faith” and it ignores “the historical, cultural, and social relevance of the Catholic Church.” The draft, in its Art. 4, states that “the State is independent from any religion,” which would be a new aspect in terms of the previous versions of the Bolivian Constitution, which establish Catholicism as the official religion.
The Bishops also mention that “the new draft of the Constitution does not recognize the right to life 'from conception,'” which could “pave the way to the legalization of abortion.” Thus, as they have mentioned on other occasions, “the ambiguity of the so-called sexual and reproductive rights place the integrity of the family in its procreative function in jeopardy and weakens the parents' rights in their mission to educate their children.”
Another one of the points that concerns the Bishops is that of the “wide range of discretion” that the new Constitution would grant the State in areas such as the retroactive application of penalties for crimes such as treason. They consider that “betrayal of the country,” the act of “violating the constitutional regulation of natural resources” or “attacking the unity of the nation” could lead to a “political persecution that would greatly violate fundamental rights.” As for the economic model that the constitutional text offers, the Catholic Church warns of the tendency towards a “government-dominated” or “centralized” system.
The Bishops conclude the document by making a call to all Bolivians to “assume this electoral act as one of the most important and transcendent in the history of Bolivia, one that will mark its present and future.” Thus, they should “take up their duty as citizens to go and vote with the proper understanding and discernment of this new draft of the Constitution,” making a decision “based on the values and principles of a more just, free, equal, supportive, and fraternal society, without discrimination and enlightened by the contents of the faith and Christian morals.”
They also make a call to public authorities and social leaders to ensure a free electoral process, one that is pacific and transparent. They ask the faithful to gather in praying to the Lord, “that He may fill us with wisdom and courage and grant us the gift of peace and unity in our nation.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 16/1/2009)
