AMERICA/BRAZIL - Bishops urge people to join national strike “to defend rights acquired, and defend the life and dignity of every person”

Wednesday, 26 April 2017 politics bishops human rights

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Brasilia (Agenzia Fides) –Bishop Francesco Biasin of Barra do Piraí-Volta Redonda, has urged the people of his diocese to join the general strike called by unions for 28 April. "I urge you all to take part, to make the call for justice and dignity " the Bishop said in a video shown on the diocesan website and taken up by the social network. "This is a just cause – he explained -, to defend acquired rights, and the life and dignity of every person, especially the poor and the helpless ”.
The strike has been called by all unions in Brazil to protest against the reforms of pensions and labour proposed by the government of president Michel Temer. The reforms aim to raise the minimum pension age and cancel certain workers’ rights and guarantees, in a presumed attempt on the part of the government to reduce the budget deficit and create more jobs
"Let us show our indignation to our leaders regarding the reforms imposed on the people without organised dialogue with the civil society, and to express our desire to build a better Brazil for everyone" the Bishop said.
The call from Bishop Biasin was not isolated: also Archbishop Fernando Antônio Saburido, O.S.B., of Olinda y Recife launched a public call to his people to take part in the national demonstration. "The working class cannot lose rights won with such difficulty" his statement reads.
Today in Brasilia the Bishops’ Conference starts its Assembly and the secretary, Mons. Leonardo Steiner, auxiliary bishop of Brasilia, has already announced that the above question will be on the agenda, today 26 April. (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 26/04/2017)