Caracas, Venezuela, Jan 10, 2011 / 11:56 am
The bishops of Venezuela are standing behind Cardinal Jorge Urosa of Caracas and his criticisms of the country's President Hugo Chavez.
Cardinal Urosa recently charged that Chavez is working to “install a Marxist regime” by enacting “laws that are contrary to the Constitution and the 2007 referendum.”
Archbishop Ubaldo Santana of Maracaibo denounced the laws passed by Venezuela's government in the last two legislative sessions, including the controversial Law of Empowerment. The recently passed law grants Chavez the authority to rule by decree, as “contrary to the spirit and letter of the Constitution.”
The archbishop's remarks came during his opening address of the 95th ordinary assembly of Venezuela's bishops' conference.