In a leaked letter Cardinal Baltazar Porras, emeritus of Caracas, and Cardinal Diego Padrón, emeritus of Cumaná, assert the Church's "moral duty to support and sustain just initiatives against abuses".

In their letter addressed to the Venezuelan bishops, the cardinals emphasise that "principles cannot be negotiated".

Dated 31 July, the letter was published by Venezuelan media on Sunday. It denounces "evident fraud" in the 28 July presidential election, accusing Maduro of manipulating the results.

The opposition insists its candidate, Edmundo González, won the presidential election with 68% of the vote. It backed its claim with tally sheets from over 80% of voting stations.

The election has sparked widespread protests and met with severe government crackdowns. In the past week, 20 people have been killed and over 1,000 jailed.

International condemnation

Despite the election being internationally denounced as a manipulation, the Venezuelan government has not released comprehensive results.

The letter warned of the possibility of a "Nicaraguan-style government" in the future. Nonetheless, the Venezuelan cardinals said, the Church cannot be silent in the face of injustice.

"We are not, and we should not, be neutral" they said, speaking of a duty to "prophetically denounce the injustices, even if it's a risk, and proclaim our principles and values, pastorally being together with the people in solidarity.

"This is not an easy task but it is necessary" they continued.

The cardinals reject the idea of the Church participating in dialogue or mediation with the government if it means recognising the disputed election results. "This, for us, is inadmissible because it would mean ignoring the evident fraud" they stated.

Originally intended as a confidential communication, the letter was leaked to the press shortly after it was written. Cardinal Porras acknowledged the letter's authenticity but expressed disappointment over its public release, stressing it was meant to provide insight for future statements.

Porras added that the letter should now be a tool for peace, urging discernment and serenity amid the ongoing crisis.

A Vatican source confirmed that the cardinals acted independently, without consulting Pope Francis. Nonetheless, both cardinals are known to be close to the Pope. Francis has consistently supported the Venezuelan bishops during the crisis.

In his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis urged all parties to seek truth, exercise restraint and resolve disputes through dialogue.

Sources

The Pillar

The Guardian

CathNews New Zealand

However, once more the regime showed it's not willing to go down and announced shortly after midnight that the president was re-elected.

One of the social segments that has to deal with an especially fierce persecution by the government, the Catholic Church reacted with the same incredulity that the Venezuelan masses have been showing in the face of the results released by the electoral authority, which are very different from the polls carried out on the days before voting.

In cities all over the country, Catholics have been part of popular demonstrations promoted by the opposition against Maduro. At least in some of them, lay brothers or priests played an important role. That's the case of El Tigre, the State capital of Anzoátegui, where Brother Giovanni Luisio Mass, who heads the canonical association Order of the Poor Knights of Christ in Venezuela, lives and works.

"We were part of the avant-garde of the march here in my diocese. When the news of Maduro's election arrived, we felt a deep indignation," Mass told Crux. Continue reading

The International Monetary Fund is predicting the inflation rate in Venezuela will top one million percent this year. If that happens, the monthly minimum wage will not buy enough flour for a batch of arepas, the corn bread that is a Venezuelan staple. Read more

The Catholic Bishops' Conference has called upon opposition leaders to offer Venezuelans "an alternative of change."

This will involve them working for Venezuela's wellbeing and having greater respect for basic needs and rights.

"Attitudes of arrogance, authoritarianism and abuse of power, as well as the constant violation of human rights, are accumulating on their actors a rejection that future generations will claim," a statement from the bishops says.

"It is suicidal to continue stubbornly insisting on a path of self-destruction that will turn against its promoters.

"Neither does it promote impunity for crimes that threaten life and fundamental rights."

The bishops' statement outlines a number of problems the country is facing.

These include "monstrous hyperinflation" and notes the quality of life for the majority of Venezuelans, which was "already extremely precarious, is deteriorating day by day."

Food shortages, reduced healthcare supplies and problems with public services such as water and electricity, concerns surrounding personal safety, employment, the circulation and sale of cash, and interruptions of public transport are all listed in the bishops' statement as being of concern.

The bishops blame President Nicolas Maduro's government "for putting its political project over any other consideration, including the humanitarian."

They say "erroneous" financial policies and the government's "contempt for productive activity and for private property and for its constant attitude of placing obstacles in the way of those who want to resolve some aspect of the current problem," are at the root of the current problems Venezuela is facing.

The bishops' statement also rejects the National Constituent Assembly and elections held in May.

They agree with many Venezuelans in saying both the Assembly and elections were illegitimate, and say the government is seeking to impose "a totalitarian ideology."

The bishops have invited the public to look for creative solutions and are urging parishes and church institutions to exercise greater solidarity with people who are suffering.

They point out the Church community is called "to promote a structural change in favour of the transformation of our society."

Source

• Catholic News Agency
• Aleteia
• Image: Steemit

"Since the announcement of the fraudulent elections convened by a Constitutional Assembly, which was itself illegitimately elected, and in the absence of opposition candidates, we knew ... Maduro would be re-elected and that he would use any means to achieve this," Father Georges Engel says. Read more

They are also urging the president to take a "different course from this saga of death." Read more

The Vatican's call came after a fraudulent election gave Maduro the votes he needed to establish the assembly. The assembly has the power to rewrite the country's constitution and override all other government branches.

This will enable Maduro to govern through decrees.

"The Holy See asks all the political actors, and particularly the Government, to guarantee the full respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as the current Constitution," the Vatican statement says.

It also calls for "the avoidance or suspension of ongoing initiatives such as the new constitutional assembly that, more than favoring reconciliation and peace, promote a climate of tension and confrontation and mortgage the future."

On a broader front, the Vatican message says Pope Francis, who is praying for the country is asking "the faithful from around the world to pray fervently for this intention."

This is the first time the Holy See has openly challenged the constitutional assembly.

Normally, it would defer to the local Catholic hierarchy in local affairs. However, the Venezuelan bishops have already been openly against the assembly and have sought help.

Last Sunday, when elections were taking place, the Twitter account of the Venezuelan bishops' conference sent out a prayer asking the Virgin Mary to free the country from the "claws of communism and socialism."

The message which was signed by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who is the Vatican's Secretariat of State closes with an "urgent call" to Venezuelan society to end the violence.

"... inviting, in particular, the security forces to abstain from excessive and disproportionate use of violence."

Source

• News.VA
• Crux
• Image: NBC News

Violent demonstrations and attacks since the end of March have seen 92 people killed and over 1,500 injured.

The new change in Venezuelan people's attitudes began with a Medical Mission Sister. Seeing the need for people to see each other, share their our emotions and console one another", she suggested the people from her parish host an activity to encourage, strengthen, and bring hope to their community.

"We are going to walk with Jesus through the streets. We are going to celebrate Mass where there is only debris, sadness, and death. Our God is the God of life, and the only one that can give us strength in these hard times.

"I proposed instead of having Sunday Mass in the chapel, we have it in the street."

And so began what she says was a "healing public celebration" beginning with 250 people processing to the recently destroyed market at the center of the city. As they set out, a torrent of rain fell - but instead of rescheduling, a woman in the crowd persuaded the organisers to think again.

The rain is "the blessing of God," she said. "He wants to clean us, to purify us; He wants to show us that he is the God of life. Rain is a sign of hope, which fertilizes and prepares the earth."

The rain cleared by the time the procession arrived at the central market, the where nearly 800 people had gathered.

The Medical Mission Sister says the penitential rite was the catalyst that allowed a broken community to heal. It had been organized by young people who "made it so beautiful with drama and music."

"We realized that this penitential act should be a significant one, due to all the sin that we have committed. The saddest part ... has been the fight among the people, neighbor against neighbor....so many wounds...

"The Mass was so beautiful, you had to be there to feel the incredible power of God. … In the end, we saw the fruits of the celebration ... all the community has committed itself to reconstruct what has been destroyed [regardless of politics].

Source

• National Catholic Reporter
• National Catholic Reporter

"I promise my own prayers for this beloved nation and express my closeness to the families who have lost their children in the streets," Francis said.

"I appeal for an end to the violence and for a peaceful and democratic solution to the crisis."

Violence, inflation, rampant crime and chronic shortages of basic goods have been the hallmarks of Maduro and his predecessor Hugo Chavez's governments. Victim numbers of the post-March protests vary, with reports of between 80 and 100 dead and at least 1,000 injured. The protesters and opposition supporters are demanding elections.

A Vatican-sponsored dialogue last year failed to settle differences between the Bolivarian government and the opposition. (Venezuela's official name is the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela). The talks were abandoned in January.

The Venezuelan bishops travelled to the Vatican in early June to brief Francis on their concerns about Maduro's authoritarian regime. Francis promised them his support and said he had complete faith in them. He also told them he was being kept fully briefed of the Venezuelan situation.

Francis's support of the bishops makes nonsense of Maduro's claims he is ignoring them.

Source

• Vatican Radio
• Boston Globe
• Crux
• Wikipedia
• Image: Salon

The Episcopal Conference asked to speak to the Pope about the ongoing national crisis in Venezuela.

Many Venezuelans struggle to find something to eat, and 11.4 percent of children under 5 in Venezuela suffer from acute malnutrition, according to Caritas Venezuela.

The present situation's immediate causes can be traced back to March this year when a court ruling decided all powers vested under the legislative body would be transferred to the Supreme Court.

Opposition leaders protested, saying the move would be comparable to a coup.

In early April, after several days of protests, the decision was reversed.

Then a few days later, the Venezuelan government told opposition leader Henrique Capriles Radonski (Capriles), who is the 36th Governor of Miranda, that he is banned from any political work for 15 years.

Capriles replied saying the government was violating protestors' civil rights. Weeks of deadly, anti-government protests followed.

About seven weeks ago, Venezuela's president, Nicolás Maduro Moros (Maduro) ordered armed forces into the streets.

Daily protests have been ongoing for over two months.

Over 60 people have been killed during the protests.

At the end of April, Pope Francis told journalists he would be willing to play a mediation role in Venezuela if "the necessary guarantees" existed.

Source

• Vatican Radio
• America
• CNN
• Image: CUBA Democracia y Vida

Archbishop Diego Padrón of Cumaná slammed President Nicolás Maduro's lack of "moral authority".

"The interests of the government are not the interests of the country," said Archbishop Padrón.

The archbishop is head of Venezuela's bishops' conference.

Continue reading

The monthly production of hosts in the South American nation has fallen from 80,000 to 30,000 recently, the Catholic News Agency reported.

Giovanni Luisio Mass, prior of the Order of Poor Knights of Christ of the Temple of Jerusalem, told local media the drop has affected every parish in three Venezuelan states.

He added that only 1500 hosts can be sent to the parishes in the north of the country.

This is because there is no longer enough flour to make the 8000 hosts these parishes have always needed.

Several parishes, along with the local communities, have started their own searches for the flour needed for the hosts.

Shortages in Venezuela include food, toilet paper, medicines, auto parts, chocolate, oil, and clothes irons.

According to the Central Bank of Venezuela, food prices went up 92 per cent last year.

According to the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo, since 2003 the Venezuelan government has imposed price controls on 165 products, including cooking oil, soap, milk, flour, cereals, toilet paper , cleaning products, detergent, diapers, toothpaste and sugar.

The local currency has plummeted in value.

As a result, price-controlled commodities are affordable, but disappear from shelves in no time, often to be resold on the black market at market rates.

And the goods that are not price-controlled are unaffordable because of the devalued currency.

The government has instituted measures such as distributing tickets for supermarkets and placing digital fingerprint readers in stores to prevent people from exceeding the allotted amount of products they can buy.

Sources

• Catholic News Agency
• Image: Triumph Dining

Within a week of Francis' election, the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed that the new Pope's statements on the "option for the poor" were, in fact, inspired by Hugo Chávez from Heaven.

Argentina's President Cristina Fernández Kirchner, whose relationship with Archbishop Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio was conspicuously lacking in warmth, announced after her first meeting with him as Pope that she had asked him to mediate in Argentina's long-standing quarrel with Britain over the Falklands Islands (or Malvinas).

The Vatican remained diplomatically silent on this but Fernández has since paid a number of visits to Pope Francis in Rome.

By contrast, the Vatican has accepted a request from the Government of Venezuela, as well as from the Opposition, the Democratic Unity Table (Mud), to mediate a deal that would end the violence that has plagued the country for more than four months.

Originally, the request was for Cardinal Pietro Parolin, former apostolic nuncio to Venezuela and now the Vatican Secretary of State, to mediate.

Not surprisingly to those who know him, Parolin seems to have made himself respected and liked during his time in Caracas.

He is sure to remain involved, but the actual "witnessing" of the Government-Opposition talks is being done by his successor as nuncio, Archbishop Aldo Giordano.

So far, the talks have yielded no results. Continue reading.

Source: The Tablet

Image: PRI

Fr Tony O'Connor, a New Zealand Marist priest, will soon be leaving Flor Amarillo, Valencia, Venezuela.

His departure will bring to an end 46 years of Marist work in the area.

As well as Fr Tony, two other New Zealand Marists, Fr Pat Brophy and Fr Peter McAfee have worked in Flor Amarillo.

In 1990 a census taken by young volunteers in the barrio found that there were many children who had no school to go to. And so Fathers Pat and Angelo Omodei began a school.

Classes were taught in the sacristy, meeting hall and the Chapel of St Peter Chanel, in Barrio Paso Real.

In 1993 Colegio Juan Claudio Colin was passed over to the movement "Fe y Alegria" leaving behind its informal status and gradually gaining official recognition.

In 1996 a plot of land was acquired in Barrio Bucaral 2, a neighbouring barrio situated some fifteen minutes walk from the original site, with the condition that it be built on within two years .

Over the last five years Fr Tony has managed the completion of the school and as a final task he is overseeing the building of a new Chapel next door to the college.

Financial help for the project was received from friends and supporters in Italy, New Zealand and in many other countries.

Source

• The Marist Messenger
• The Marist Messenger

The Catholic News Agency said Chavez received spiritual direction and the sacraments in his last days, and Vice President Nicolas Maduro said he died "clinging to Christ".

Chavez's 14-year rule was marked by increasingly hostile relations with the Venezuelan Catholic bishops, who frequently warned of the risks and excesses of his socialist agenda, including violations of religious freedom.

In 2002 he accused the bishops of being a "tumour" for his revolutionary goals and demanded that the Vatican not intervene in the internal affairs of the country.

Venezuela has been on the "Watch List" of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom since 2009.

In its 2012 report, the commission said violations of religious freedom included "the government's failure to investigate and hold accountable perpetrators of attacks on religious leaders and houses of worship, and virulent rhetoric from President Hugo Chavez, government officials, state media, and pro-Chavez media directed at the Venezuelan Jewish and Catholic communities".

The commission also reported that the government had begun wire-tapping the telephones of some Catholic leaders, expropriated some Catholic churches, schools and community centres and prohibiting Church representatives from visiting prisoners for humanitarian or spiritual reasons.

On Holy Thursday last year, shortly before his third surgery for cancer, Chavez attended a Mass and pleaded for his life. "I ask God to give me life, however painful. I can carry 100 crosses, your crown of thorns, but don't take me yet. I still have things to do," he said.

On several occasions the bishops of Venezuela had called on their people to pray for the health of the president.

Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, the Catholic archbishop of Caracas, has said he will celebrate a funeral Mass for Chavez in Rome, where he is to attend the conclave to elect a new pope.

Sources:

Catholic News Agency

Catholic News Service

Aleteia

Image: El Universal