Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Buenos Aires (Agenzia Fides) - The permanent Commission of the Episcopal Conference of Argentina issued a statement, also sent to Fides, which deals with the terrible events of Villa Soldati, in view of Christmas almost upon us. Here is the text, entitled “Christmas invites us to live as brothers”, and is dated 14 December.
“Near to the celebration of Christmas, which is a moment of peace and hope for our people, we remember that God, in Jesus of Nazareth, became one of us and chose the path of littleness and poverty. The events of recent days have put into the hearts of millions of Argentines, the evidence of serious problems that show signs of social fragmentation: the persistence of poverty and inequality, difficulty of dialogue, violence and aggression, contempt for migrants. This situation lends itself to various manipulations that affect the depths of human dignity and further increase injustice.
The drama is obvious from the lack of adequate housing, as well as from the people who live and sleep in the streets. In addition, there is the alarming situation in various regions of the country, of Aboriginal communities and farmers who have been displaced from their places of work and, deprived of their livelihood, they end up swelling the poverty belts of various cities.
As men of faith, we wish to appeal to all Argentines and to brethren of other countries who live in our land:
1. To acknowledge God, as did our constituents, is the guarantee and the basis on which our society is built. To invoke God the Father helps us to respect and love each other as brothers.
2. To reaffirm the fundamental right to life, as well as the physical and moral integrity of all.
3. To restore order and a sense of moral values as the foundation of social coexistence.
4. To work for human dignity, to eradicate poverty and promote integral development.
5. To renew the commitment to the common good and to the strengthening of the State and institutions of the Republic. As we have said many times, only a sincere dialogue is the path that leads us away from confrontation and violence.
During this Christmas of the Bicentenary we pray to the Baby Jesus, born into a poor family and with no place among the houses of Bethlehem.” (CE) (Agenzia Fides 15/12/2010)
