Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Church is making a strong appeal to dialogue and seeks consensus between the government and the opposition, following the escalation of political tensions that emerged as a result of attempts by the executive power to gain possession of the Central Bank reserves for payment of foreign debt by a decree-law of necessity and urgency. The bishops, according to the spokesman from the Bishops' Conference, Father Jorge Oesterheld, want to appeal to the respect of institutional mechanisms and the separation of powers.
The statement was agreed upon, without hesitation, as society expects a word from the Bishops, in order to make an appeal to moderation. The bishops believe that these issues should be answered as soon as possible because they can distract attention from urgent social problems, exacerbated by incipient inflation that hurts the people, especially the poorest, as well as threatens social peace. Although the spokesman of the Bishops' Conference has not yet distributed the text of the declaration of the Bishops, an appeal has been made to the government and the opposition to peacefully resolve their differences.
The drafting of the document involves the bishops attending the meeting with the Bishops' Permanent Committee, led by Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires. A drafting committee has been established for the occasion, presided by the Chairman of the Social Pastoral Commission, Bishop Jorge Casaretto of San Isidro. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 10/03/2010)
