Bishops call for new constitution to respect values and faith of Bolivian people

La Paz, Bolivia, Jul 3, 2007 / 08:55 am

The president of the Bishops’ Conference of Bolivia, Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval, has sent ten proposals to the Constitutional Assembly in which the Church in that country calls for the new constitution to respect the fundamental values of life, family, marriage, and well as the right to religious freedom.

“Those who will make the laws of the country are in complete freedom to do so, but they should not forget that these must include the right to faith and to life, as our nation is majority Catholic,” he said during a press conference.

 “The State has the duty to protect marriage as the union between a man and a woman, to defend the family and right to life of all human beings,” the cardinal continued.  He also asked that the State recognized the Church “as a collective person that works in service to the community.”

Archbishop Tito Solari, who was also at the press conference, stressed that parents have the right to choose the education they want for their children and that the existence of private schools must be guaranteed.  He also said religious instruction should be a fundamental part of comprehensive education.

Cardinal Terrazas has called for a day of payer on July 27, asking “all believers in Christ to turn to the power of prayer to God that his peace would create an atmosphere of reconciliation in the country.”