AMERICA/GUATEMALA - “One of our greatest concerns is the situation of violence insecurity in which our people have to live ” says Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Guatemala City (Fides Service) - The Catholic Bishops of Guatemala have voiced deep concern for the situation of violence and insecurity with which the people have to contend every day and the crisis in values which is the cause. They say the crisis in values has reached a point where people have lost their sense of the value of human life: unthinkable and villainous are committed especially against women, children and adolescents. In a statement titled “A life of dignity for all”, issued after a plenary meeting of the Bishops’ Conference, the Bishops say “in this situation of persistent insecurity people have lost all trust, even in the authorities and the police and they easily resort taking justice in their own hands”. The Bishop call on the authorities to accelerate decisions to restore security and to begin a programme of disarmament.
Other problems highlighted in the statement include unemployment and under-employment and high cost of living affecting mainly the poorest sectors of society; the plight of impoverished peasants without land or work many of whom are hungry; absolute defence of private property, solutions for the problem of lack of land and work; lack of respect for life and rights of every person guaranteed by the Constitution.
Also concerned about the proposed Free Trade Agreement the Bishops say “any economic agreement must focus on the people and in the case of Guatemala the people are impoverished peasants and subsistence farmers. Before the Agreement is signed its contents must be made public and discussed and National Congress must examine it carefully and aim for the common good.”
Lastly, recalling Bishop Juan Gerardi Conedera assassinated six years ago, the Bishops’ Conference confirms its commitment to fighting to eliminate impunity: “We want the truth to be known and for justice to be done”. The Bishops end their statement by saying: “The aim of our reflection and our pastoral work in fidelity to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is to build the common good of society on foundations of harmonious and peaceful co-existence which will facilitate equal and fair development and a life of dignity for all”. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 14/5/2004 - Righe 29; Parole 402).