AMERICA/ECUADOR - “Our country is falling to pieces. We have never witnessed such a serious crisis in the institutions”: Catholic Bishops express concern and say they “back the hopes of the people”

Quito (Fides Service) - Profound concern was expressed by the Catholic Bishops of Ecuador at the end of their annual general assembly. In a message the Bishop said the country is falling to pieces because “personal or party interests prevail over the common good of the nation. We have never witnessed such a serious institutional crisis”.
In this situation of confusion in which “all parties stress the need to fight corruption and defend democracy, reciprocally blaming each other for hindering the process of dialogue” the Bishops said “it is most important to make space for meeting” and “there can be no other path than that of respect and the return to authentic institutional government objectively based on the Constitution”. The Bishops called on those in government, social leaders to work sincerely to promote peace and dialogue and encounter. “It is not enough to repeat ideas, we want to see transparent facts of truth and peace” the Bishops said, reaffirming that the Church in Ecuador is anxious to contribute to this process of peace building: “We want to back and encourage the hopes of the people and facilitate initiatives to promote dialogue”. (R.Z.) (Agenzia Fides 14/4/2005, righe 15, parole 210)