Caracas, Venezuela, Jul 6, 2007 / 09:43 am
Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas told reporters this week the Church would officially respond to the attacks on the bishops by President Hugo Chavez and that the response would be “sensible, thought-out, very mature and respectful.”
Speaking during the 88th Plenary Assembly of the Bishops’ Conference of Venezuela, he rejected Chavez’s comments, who said the bishops were “perverts, liars and deceivers” for calling for a debate on constitutional reform.
In referring to the anniversary of the country’s declaration of independence, Cardinal Urosa called on Venezuelans “give the best of themselves” out of love and respect so that Venezuela might be a country where there is “inclusion, respect, social justice, work and progress for all.”
For Catholics, he noted, love of country is of the utmost importance because it is a manifestation of the fourth commandment. He said the celebration of the country’s independence should be a day of patriotic fervor “which should burn in the hearts of all Venezuelans and should manifest itself in solidarity, the determination to work for the common good without hatred, exclusions or confrontations.”