Buenos Aires, Argentina, May 25, 2010 / 16:05 pm
Archbishop Hector Aguer of La Plata in Argentina said this week during the county's celebration of its bicentennial, that “the human and Christian values that our nation continues to maintain” must be the foundation for a stronger Argentina.
The archbishop pointed out that the events which led to the country’s independence in the 19th century were followed by “a series of structural problems that have endured to this day, such as political instability, widespread corruption, lack of interest in the problems of public life, economic concerns,” and the “famous ‘external debt’ that was very quickly amassed and has been dragged along for decades and decades.”
“All of these events have brought discouragement to Argentinean society,” the archbishop continued. “The records from the first Centennial in 1910 show that at that time the spiritual atmosphere was different. Certainly at that time there was no lack of defects in our society and enormous injustices, but Argentina saw the promise of a great future,” he said.
Archbishop Aguer encouraged Argentineans to regain hope by looking to the “splendid tradition and the human and Christian values that our nation continues to maintain.”
“God has favored us generously with his providence. Now we must respond,” he concluded.