Panama City, Panama, Jul 12, 2011 / 16:04 pm
The Bishops’ Conference of Panama called on leaders to overcome the divorce between the needs of the people and the interests of the political class.
“We have observed with sadness the attitude of some politicians who are far from inspiring confidence and respect. It is necessary and essential that politics be humanized and that its ethical sense be recovered by giving priority to human dignity, the common good and respect for the will of the electorate,” the bishops said at the conclusion of their plenary meeting July 8.
“It is also important to show coherence between one’s personal conduct and moral principles in carrying out one’s duty.”
According to the Fides news agency, the bishops acknowledged efforts being made to improve formation at seminaries, to foster better organization in parish life and the generosity of many missionaries working to evangelize. However, they expressed “concern for the absence of committed lay people in the political, economic and social life of the country.”
They emphasized that the family is the foundation of society and that those “who promote the family, promote man, and those who attack the family, attack man.”