AMERICA/VENEZUELA - “For the present and the future of the country it is necessary to reject attitudes which divide and promote instead what unites: one story, one destiny, one common hope”: Catholic Bishops issue message at the end of their plenary assembly

Monday, 17 January 2005

Caracas (Fides Service) - At the end of their 83rd plenary assembly the Bishops of Venezuela issued a message “Dialogue and Forgiveness for Peace”, remarking “not enough has been done to promote reconciliation and peace” and voicing concern for increased polarisation and absence of signs to show that these attitudes and the exclusion they produce in society are being overcome.
In the national panorama the Bishops note “the executive power has almost a monopoly in running the country. This excessive concentration of government power of control appears to annul the autonomy of public powers, a situation which has led to a progressive distortion and loss of the institutional dimension. This is extremely dangerous for a democracy which by nature requires next to autonomous public powers, a responsible and critical Opposition free of pressure. Otherwise there could be a danger of an abuse of power which would open the door for a dictatorship apparently legal” the Bishops point out.
The Bishops are also concerned with regard to the approval of laws of a decidedly restrictive character in contradiction with the spirit of principles and rights sanctioned by the Constitution and by international Conventions signed by Venezuela. “A society where freedom of opinion and dissent are limited, even lawfully, leaves no room for exchange and presentation of proposals, in practice it closes the road towards truth”.
The Bishops say that in order to build a Venezuela of humanity, justice, solidarity and brotherhood there must be reconciliation, pluralism and dialogue among all citizens: “It is urgent to establish authentic and responsible dialogue between the government and those who do not share its social policies”. The country cannot live in a prolonged state of polarisation. All the political forces must share responsibility with truth and justice keeping in mind the common good. Otherwise “determination not to cede, unwillingness to listen to each other and respective claims to be the measure of justice, prevent dialogue, solutions and lasting and peaceful development”. The Bishops call for more gestures of reconciliation, moderation of language and expressions with regard to adversaries. They stress to need to “value, more than anything which divides, what we have in common as Venezuelan, and to forgive one another for failings and faults”.
The Bishops appeal closes with a prayer for intercession of Immaculate Mary to help build a country of respect and a nation of brotherhood. The Bishops say that for the present and the future of the country it is necessary to reject attitudes which divide and promote what unites: one story, one destiny, one common hope. (RZ) (Agenzia Fides 17/1/2005; righe 33, parole 461)


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