AMERICA/COLOMBIA - New appeals for an end to violence and respect for life and human rights

Monday, 10 May 2021 social situation   politics   human rights   poverty   coronavirus   local churches  

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Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - "I would like to express my concern for the tensions and violent clashes in Colombia, which have caused deaths and injuries. There are many Colombians here; let us pray for your homeland", Pope Francis said at the end of the Regina Caeli yesterday, Sunday, May 9, in St. Peter's Square. Also yesterday in Bogota, the religious leaders met the President of the Republic, Ivan Duque Marquez, and at the end they launched a joint appeal to the National Government to overcome the difficult situation in which the country finds itself today. The Catholic Church participated in this meeting, represented by Archbishop Elkin Fernando Alvarez Botero, Bishop of Santa Rosa de Osos and Secretary General of the Bishops' Conference (CEC), and Father Jorge Bustamante Mora, Deputy Secretary of the CCE. In the message also sent to Fides, the religious leaders reaffirm the importance of dialogue and unity to overcome violence, ask to find ways to put an end to the blockades that affect millions of families, reject the abuse that some members of the public force and appreciate the efforts made by the latter to ensure peaceful protest and urge the government to continue and reinforce social programs for the most vulnerable. "We express our support to the institutions in the search for dialogue processes that allow progress in solving the needs of the poorest, as well as their total rejection of any form of violence, wherever it comes from", write the religious leaders, who reiterate: "We support the exercise of mutual listening, the constant and open dialogue initiated by the President of the Republic with representatives of different sectors, both at national and regional levels, to build together solutions aimed at satisfying the needs of Colombians and rejecting any incitement to violence, hatred, discord and the destruction of our society". Finally, they recognize the legitimate authorities of the nation in the President and the institutions and express satisfaction with the beginning of dialogues, especially with young people, in order to generate real opportunities for employment, education and well-being. "We invite the signing of agreements that will allow us to overcome the Covid-19 health emergency and give impetus to a more inclusive economy, which opens up spaces for work and sustainable and stable entrepreneurship". Since April 28, Colombia has been experiencing a serious situation of tension and violence. Demonstrations have multiplied calling for the withdrawal of the tax reform bill proposed by the government, which would have had serious consequences for the middle class and the poorest. The peaceful protests have degenerated into confrontations, violence and vandalism by some groups, with deaths and injuries, repressed with excessive violence by some public forces. "As a missionary Church, as religious and Colombians, faced with these situations of profound pain, we are not indifferent - the Redemptorist students from Colombia write to Fides -. We accompany every person who joined the peaceful marches, we are with the people who scream and suffer in the midst of pain, injustice, anger and despair. Likewise, we repudiate and strongly condemn any act of repression and abuse that is against the life and dignity of any person, but above all of our poorest and most disadvantaged brothers and sisters. As Church we are present, we accompany people, we denounce and demand for an end to violence and respect for life. We do not tolerate authoritarianism or vandalism". Priests, seminarians, men and women religious, and a good number of lay people, have joined this cause, the testimony continues, the Colombian Church has launched an appeal for national reconciliation, dialogue and the search for peaceful alternatives for the benefit of all. Recalling the words of St. Oscar Arnulfo Romero and the appeals of Pope Francis, the message concludes: "It is not possible that as a Church we are architects and participants in division, violence and hatred, since the great Revolutionary of History, Jesus, He taught us that changing the structures of death is possible, never with the promotion of hatred and violence; yes with love, commitment, mercy and forgiveness". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 10/5/2021)


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