AMERICA/PERU - “Corruption and partisan interests must give way to the one and only target for a good government, the common good” Catholic Bishops tell new government

Lima (Agenzia Fides) - In a message on the occasion of the 185th anniversary of the country’s independence, the president of the Peruvian Catholic Bishops’ Conference Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte of Trujillo told Peru’s new President and government "In your hands you hold the future of millions of Peruvians who chose you to guide the path of our country in the next five years. We expect you to make every effort for good governance which is not only a question of coming to power, but of being capable of rising to the situation and meeting the needs of our country. Peru has a new government and may this be new opportunity for all Peruvians!”
In the message the Archbishop underlined the country’s great needs and therefore its great expectations with regard to the new government while at the same time he said there exists some incredulity and mistrust towards political leaders and the new government from the start must engage in “exemplary government where corruption, impunity, partisan interests, make way for the only target for a good government: the common good". The Archbishop asked the government to avoid attempts and experiments but to focus on "laying sound basis for integral sustained and sustainable development, to support our democratic institutions" and solve number problems facing the country because "half the population lives in extreme poverty, three quarters of our young people dream of leaving the country, many qualified professionals cannot find work, and uncontrolled growing city insecurity". When solving problems two fundamental principles must be kept in mind Archbishop Cabrejos Vidarte warned: "defence of life from conception to natural end, human rights, consolidation of democracy, peace and social harmony". (RG) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2006; righe 25, parole 354)