Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Managua (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops' Conference of Nicaragua has issued a Message upon the beginning of Lent, in which they make a strong call to social conversion, reminding the faithful that “the time of Lent is a great opportunity for authentic personal conversion and a widening of our social structures.” The Bishops affirm that in order to take up the right path, first we must acknowledge our sins. However, this is not enough. We also must “go beyond the individual” and recognize the collective sins for which we should repent. “In Nicaragua, we have been actors and victims in many social sins, such as that of institutional corruption, manipulation and buying of consciences, generalized selfishness, faults in applying justice, trafficking of drugs and drug addiction, illegal abortions, destruction of the environment, increased misery, dishonesty, moral disorder, negligence and irresponsibility towards others...all these have come from a lack of education in moral and religious values.” For the Prelates, this social sin is precisely the greatest and most profound cause for the crisis that envelops today's world.
Thus, they make an urgent call to personal and social conversion that “demands that we open ourselves to God, reject selfishness and personal or party interests, moral disorder, injustice, and any other type of social corruption.” It should be a conversion that reaches out to everyone, “from the highest ranking public and private workers to the least known Nicaraguan, each one in his conscience knows what he has to change.”
They also call for a special week of penance for the conversion of all Nicaraguans March 30 – April 4, calling on all priests, religious, and parish leaders to “organize days of prayer, penance, charity, and other kinds of practices such as pilgrimages, retreats, Stations of the Cross, and Eucharistic Adoration, all of which can help is to reach a sincere conversion.”
The Bishops conclude their Message with a call also to the media, “that the programs aired during Holy Week help contribute to a climate of reflection on our personal and social situation.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/2/2009)
