AMERICA/COLOMBIA - Discerning the moment that Colombia is experiencing in the light of faith

Thursday, 2 June 2022 elections politics civil society bishops

COLOMBIA

2023-07-03
Armed attack against two pastoral workers: reflection of violations of civil society

2023-05-24
The search for peace is based on respect for life, human dignity and dialogue, not on violence

2023-05-17
Families "promoters of human life, builders of society, custodians of the common home and active subjects of evangelization"

2023-05-16
Educating young people for peace, a sign of hope in the midst of the Colombian conflict

2023-05-03
Day of prayer for reconciliation and peace: peace is possible, it is necessary, it is everyone's responsibility

2023-04-14
The "District of Mercy": proclamation of the Gospel and promotion of human dignity in the center of the capital

Bogota (Agenzia Fides) - "Let's make discernment. Help to discern in the light of faith the moment that Colombia is experiencing, in view of the second round to elect the new President of the Republic". This is the title of the brief aid produced by the Archbishop of Bogotá and President of the Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Luis José Rueda Aparicio, which is structured according to three verbs: to see, to judge and to act. By proposing texts from Sacred Scripture and the Magisterium (Gospel of Matthew 20, 25-28 and number 186 of the Encyclical Fratelli Tutti), the Archbishop poses various questions to the Colombian citizen, to help him analyze the situation in the country and suggest ways to help build a more just and reconciled society. Reading the passage from the Gospel and the passage from the Magisterium raises two major questions: "What do these texts tell us about our political reality? What hope do I have in the candidates' proposals?". Reflecting on the new presidential mandate, whoever is elected, Monsignor Rueda Aparicio then proposes three questions: What can we do for the common good, in accordance with our Christian faith, as individuals, as families, as parishes? What are the main issues that we need to address as Colombian people, in order to walk together? How are we ready to contribute to a more reconciled and fraternal society? In the first round of the presidential elections, which took place on May 29, the leader of the left, Gustavo Petro, and the independent, Rodolfo Hernández, obtained the most votes and will meet in the second round on June 19. The Catholic Bishops of Colombia have repeatedly invited all Colombians to participate actively and consciously in the elections, to strengthen the democratic system and contribute to the construction of a better country (see Fides, 19/2/2022; 11/5/2022; 21/5/2022; 1/6/2022). (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 2/6/2022)