AMERICA/ARGENTINA - Bishops call for dialogue to avoid violence

Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – The Bishops of Argentina have issued an appeal for dialogue to avoid a climate of violence, at the close of the Permanent Committee's meeting, which took place March 24-25. In the meeting, attended by twenty Bishops, various ecclesial themes were addressed, as well as other related topics such as early elections, the farmers' strike, and the wave of insecurity. The prelates have analyzed the situation in the country through a “pastoral exchange.”
In the final document issued, entitled “Strengthening Social Amnesty,” the Bishops make an appeal to all citizens, asking that they strengthen friendly relations with society at large and the institutions of the country, because “when individual interests take precedence over the common good, or when thirst for power rules over dialogue and justice, people's dignity is undermined and poverty spreads in its various forms.”
The Prelates affirm that “every democracy suffers moments of conflict.” And, although the easiest reaction in moments like this is to foster confrontation, “the wisest and most opportune manner of preventing them and reacting to them is to seek consensus through dialogue.” Thus, they affirm once more that in this difficult moment “only dialogue will make it possible to reach new accords for the future of our country and for a country with future. This is fundamental at this time, when the global economic crisis implies the risk of leading to another wave of inequality, and we are obliged to realize the “social and political dimension of the problem of poverty.”
They also recall that “the threat to possible growth of poverty, in the upcoming months, is the greatest social challenge we have ahead and it should be responded to in concrete acts of solidarity both in the public and private sectors. Argentina can only grow with the effort, unity, and solidarity of all Argentineans.”
With this situation, the Bishops “with sincere love for our country and a spirit of service,” make an appeal to all citizens, “to avoid attitudes that lead to mutual confrontation and division and violence. At the present moment, there is a need for sincere and honest dialogue, reconciliation of Argentineans, and a search for consensus that strengthens social peace.”
In fact, for some time now, a climate of tension has been unleashed along with conflict among the agricultural sector and the preparations for the electoral campaign, along with a wave of insecurity in the country's major cities. Since last Saturday, farmers have been on strike – the seventh strike since the conflict broke out in March 2008 and the second this year, completely or at least partially blocking dozens of interstate highways in the country. Then there are also the discrepancies between the Church and the Government, coinciding with the polemic over Cristina Fernandez's decision to hold elections in June instead of October. The proposal, which is supported by the House of Representatives and rejected by the opposition party, could be finally approved on Thursday in the Senate, thanks to the majority party and their cohorts.
During the meeting, the Bishops also studied the Aparecida Document and the guidelines for carrying out the Continental Mission in each diocese. The Bishops also dedicated a large portion of the sessions to discussing impressions from their recent “ad limina” visit, which a first group led by Cardinal Bergoglio had on March 7-14. They also appointed Executive Secretaries of the commissions and their affiliates. The meeting concluded with addresses from some of the Bishops' Commissions. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 26/3/2009)