Cochabamba (Fides Service) - At the end of their 75th annual assembly the Bishops of Bolivia issued a message to the people of God, denouncing the evils of the day but encouraging hope and confidence for the future. The Bishops denounce: "The scandalous disparity between those who waste and those who have nothing, growing unemployment, unequal distribution of land, serious limits of education, lack of respect for life - violence, abortion, murders - widespread corruption, bad use of foreign debt reduction, climate of insecurity, growing violence and broken families". Faced with this serious situation the Bishops call on the people "to keep their eyes on Christ, follow his example, explain their hope by living compassion, mercy and love". The Bishops stress the need for everyone to help to build a better country. In this respect the Bishops ask government "to respect their electoral promises, to fight poverty and eliminate corruption". They call on all Bolivians "to take and active part in common efforts with confidence and co-responsibility to find a way out of the crisis, putting aside partiality and group interest and thinking of Bolivia as a homeland for all"; they call on Bolivia's Catholics to "offer transparent and courageous witness to the Gospel of hope". See message in Spanish (Fides Service 27/11/2002)