AMERICA/PARAGUAY - Anniversary of Independence: reiterated the need to reform the Constitution together

Wednesday, 17 May 2017 politics   local churches   violence   episcopal conferences  

Asuncion (Agenzia Fides) - In the presence of President Horacio Cartes, ministers, judges of the Supreme Court, parliamentarians and military leaders, the Archbishop of Asunción, Mgr. Edmundo Valenzuela, on 15 May celebrated Mass and Te Deum Thanksgiving in the Cathedral for the 20th Anniversary of Independence of Paraguay.
During the celebration, the Holy Father's message was read, who wishes this country "spiritual progress". The Archbishop, on behalf of the local Catholic Church, therefore reiterated the need to reform the Constitution together. The reform of the Constitution must guarantee "the identity of Paraguay, with its cultural values and the balance of the three powers, without the dictatorship of any of these", he underlined.
The Catholic Church has actively participated in the pacification of the people of Paraguay in recent events of fierce political confrontation (see Fides 6/04/2017). Violent popular protests were held against the constitutional reform which would open the way for the re-election of current President, Horacio Cartes (see Fides 29/03/2017). Shortly after Cartes proposed to meet several institutional groups to resolve the situation, including Bishops (see Fides 04/04/2017). The Church's position on constitutional change has always been to abandon the project if there is no dialogue and popular consensus (see Fides 6/04/2017). (CE) (Agenzia Fides, 17/05/2017)


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