Caracas, Venezuela, Jul 25, 2004 / 22:00 pm
Bishop Mario del Valle Moronta of San Cristobal, Venezuela, said this week that while it’s not for the Church to make or change governments, it is her mission to enlighten the actions of the faithful in their task of building a new country.
“It’s not up to the ecclesiastical hierarchy or its institutions to make or change governments, but rather instead to enlighten the action of the faithful and men and women of good will in their task to build up and guide the members of society,” the bishops said in a seminar at the Tachira Catholic University.
Bishop Moronta explained that “the Church is on the side of man, without exception. If the Church, particularly the hierarchy, takes up sides, we will not be able to promote reconciliation. The personal leanings of bishops cannot be given priority; what should be first is love and pastoral charity.”
He also mentioned that in the current national political struggle, “each group wants the Church to say what best suits it.”