AMERICA/BOLIVIA - Bolivian Bishops call for solidarity with victims of natural disaster: “No Bolivian can be indifferent in the face of so much suffering and desperation”

La Paz (Fides Service) - “In various regions of our country the people are living the negative effects of nature: overflowing rivers, loss of life, harvests, animals, spreading disease, lack of food and medicine, the most affected are children and old people. No Bolivian can be indifferent towards so much suffering and desperation” say the Catholic Bishops of Bolivia in a statement “I was hungry and you gave me to eat”, signed by the secretary general of the Bolivian Bishops’ Conference Bishop Jesús Juárez Párraga of El Alto diocese.
“We Bishops suffer with those who suffer” says the statement underlining the need to offer spiritual and material aid. In this sense Church institutions for social assistance are doing everything possible to help the stricken people.
The Bishops thank the central government and local authorities “for selfless efforts” to help brothers and sisters victims of natural disasters. They call on Catholics, other Christians and all men and women of good will to “help these brothers and sisters in need ” recalling the words of Jesus: “I was hungry and you gave me to eat...” (Mt 25, 35-36). The Bishops conclude their statement calling on all who suffer not to lose hope: “You are not alone. We are with you and we value the life of every person as the greatest treasure of creation”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 3/2/2006 - righe 19, parole 260)