AMERICA/PUERTO RICO - Mgr. González Nieves: "Before the crisis we have to self-determine our relationship with the US"

Thursday, 9 June 2016 politics economy bishops poverty

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San Juan (Agenzia Fides) - "I am in favor of the legislation because pensions and social services can be paid before paying the debt" wrote the Archbishop of San Juan (Puerto Rico), His Exc. Mgr. Roberto Gonzalez Nieves, OFM, in an editorial of the newspaper "the Hill".
The Archbishop thus announces his support for the legislation regarding the debt crisis of Puerto Rico, which should be voted by the US Congress these days.
Mgr. González nonetheless expresses some concern about the "economic surveillance Council" established by Congress, noting that the roots of the crisis lies in the political status of Puerto Rico. Therefore the Archbishop invites Puerto Ricans to "see this visit of the supervisory board on our island as a wake-up call". "Basically, Puerto Rico is a US colony", writes Mgr. González, who points out: "Before our island faces the next crisis, we must self-determine who we want to be, and our relationship with the US".
"Archbishop González is a brave supporter of his people", said Eric LeCompte, Executive Director of the "Jubilee USA Network", a network of organizations and religious communities, in a note sent to Fides. "I share the Archbishop's support for the action of Congress. I also share his hope that we will see a reduction in child poverty".
The serious economic and social crisis in the country continues, and its solution depends largely on the decisions of the US Congress (see Fides 20/05/2016, 12/04/2016). (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 09/06/2016)