After Chavez's insults, Venezuelan cardinal proposes calm and respectful dialogue

Caracas, Venezuela, Jul 20, 2010 / 11:18 am

After declining an invitation made by Cilia Flores, the leader of Venezuela’s National Assembly, to explain some of his recent statements that were met with insults and attacks from President Hugo Chavez, the Archbishop of Caracas, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, has proposed that calm and respectful talks be held between representatives of the bishops’ conference and lawmakers during the coming days.

The Archdiocese of Caracas issued a statement saying the cardinal declined the invitation to meet at the congressional building because the current circumstances and the chances of social unrest outside the Capitol building mean that the necessary calm and respect for holding such a meeting cannot be guaranteed.

The archdiocese said that in response to the invitation made by Flores, Cardinal Urosa proposes holding a meeting between lawmakers and bishops at another time and place agreed to by all the parties “in order to discuss the mission of the Church in Venezuela and the content of the statements questioned during the debate at the Assembly.”

Cardinal Urosa “reaffirms his recognition and respect for the Institutions of the State, as well as his encouragement to continue working with dedication as a Bishop of the Catholic Church for the common good and the peace of the Venezuelan people, who are mostly Christian and Catholic. Likewise, he thanks all the institutions and people who have shown him their support and solidarity,” he said.