Bolivia: The Catholic Church prays for pacification and calls dialogue

The social climate in Bolivia continues to be marked by the economic crisis, shortage, political tension between different factions of socialism movement (MAS), Luis Arce’s government party, and demonstrations with blockages of routes and street cuts.

In that context, a few days ago the clashes between the followers of former President Evo Morales – who claim their participation as a candidate in the next elections – and the police, caused six dead.

Given this dramatic scenario, the bishops of Bolivia have been calling for dialogue, peace and the search for the common good.

Last week, a communication issued by the Bolivian Episcopal Conference (CEB), with the title “no more acts of violence”, recalled that “no political or social cause justifies the loss of human lives”, while condemning the use of weapons both against public servants and against civilians.

Another example of the Church’s concern to the news of the country was the call of the Archbishop of La Paz and vice president of the Episcopal Conference, Mons. Percy Galván, who promoted, last Sunday, June 15, a day of prayer for peace, inviting parishes, movements and pastoral groups to raise supplications before each Mass to ask God for God’s justice, peace and fraternity among the Bolivians.

In one press conferencethe archbishop stressed that the Church is always willing to facilitate dialogue neutrally and with love for the Bolivian land, and implored: “Please, I ask them, as a brother, as Bolivian, as a priest, as a bishop: let’s stop it!”

“It makes no sense, we discern, let’s think. It’s a matter of thinking a little. If this leads me to any solution, then, but it is not leading to destruction, because unemployment for common sense,” he reflected.

Polarization and partisan interests, he said, deepens the division between brothers and feed an environment of confrontation that “only brings death and pain.” Therefore, he called to stop the spiral of violence and asked political leaders and social actors to “give up personal, group and supporters” to open spaces for dialogue, encounter and reconciliation.

Confrontation is never the way

He also referred to the topic Mons. Aurelio Pesoa, president of the Bolivian Episcopal Conference and Bishop of the Vicariate of Beni, When celebrating the patron saint parties and the 399 anniversary of the city of Trinidad.

There, the prelate called citizen consciousness, reconciliation and justice, in a national context that increasingly worries the Church.

Mons. Weight warned that the country cannot allow violence to become a method to resolve conflicts.

“We manifest our firm rejection of all violent form. The confrontation is never the way to solve the problems,” he insisted, urging the political, social, indigenous, peasants and authorities sectors, to depose particular interests to “look together for a peaceful solution” to the crisis.

“We were not created for hate, we were not created for violence, intolerance, resentment. We were created for love,” said Mons. Weight.