Dominican Republic Cardinal calls on President to restore morality

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Aug 18, 2004 / 22:00 pm

Cardinal Nicolas de Jesus Lopez Rodriguez, Archbishop of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, called on President Leonel Fernandez, who began his four-year term this month, to work for a restoration of morality that will allow the country to overcome its crisis.

The Cardinal presided at a thanksgiving Mass attended by the president and principal leaders of the country.  In his homily, he recommended Fernandez fight corruption and illicit wealth, because “the people have been the victims of all these injustices, and they deserve and demand a remedy that is moral and satisfactory.”

The Cardinal recognized that “humanly speaking, it is very difficult to put up with such a chorus of evils for so long without falling into despair, but I know that there are moral and spiritual reserves in our people which have sustained them.”

Likewise he added that “we are all conscious that the task ahead of him (President Fernandez) is not an easy one” and that he will need the assistance of God and the strength of the Holy Spirit at every moment.

“It’s time for the triumph of honesty, seriousness, order, organization, institutionalization, discipline, complete respect of others, austerity, rationality, adherence to the law, responsibility, commitment and efficiency in work, good manners, transparency in everything, solidarity, just distribution, creativity, courage in business, truthfulness in the declaring and paying of taxes,” he said.