Archbishop urges Mexicans to remain hopeful amidst floods

Mexico City, Mexico, Sep 29, 2010 / 17:59 pm

Amidst the widespread damage caused by flooding in southern Mexico, Archbishop Jose Luis Chavez Botello of Antequera-Oaxaca called on those affected to remain hopeful and urged all of Mexico to express solidarity with them.

The archbishop stressed the importance of not giving in to despair, uncertainty and powerlessness, and emphasized that those in need should not be taken advantage of by others. “Rather, let us open our hearts to the solidarity that the greatness of the human heart always manifests in these situations,” he added.

Archbishop Chavez Botello noted that while the immediate emergency needs can be met by the families, there are some needs that only the government can provide. The prelate noted that it is the government’s “grave duty to carry out their tasks and not improvise or leave communities and families to bear the entire weight of the consequences of natural disasters on their shoulders.”

He stressed that officials need to develop better contingency plans in order to minimize the loss of human life, the spread of disease and property damage that results from such disasters.

The Church “has been and always will be willing to provide support in keeping with subsidiarity and her mission in these emergencies,” the archbishop said. He called on priests and the faithful to express their concrete solidarity with those affected by floods and mudslides.