Lima, Peru, Jul 20, 2005 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Miguel Irizar Campos of Callao, Peru, said this week Peruvian society continues to be rampant with corruption because there is a lack of will on the part of leaders, as well as little vigilance and collaboration from citizens, to eradicate it.
In a letter entitled, “A Peru Without Corruption,” the bishop explained that a “strong ethical and moral conscience” is necessary in the battle against this scourge.
He recalled that in 2001, then-President Valentin Paniagua established a special commission to deal with the problem of corruption. The commission found that the commitment to serve the common good was “weak,” and that politicians and leaders frequently violated ethical norms in order to bestow favors on certain groups and individuals.
The commission recommended the creation of “an autonomous organism elected by Congress” that would institutionalize “the fight against corruption,” as well as “guarantee transparency and accountability in public affairs.”