Brasilia, Brazil, Oct 31, 2011 / 11:48 am
The bishops of Brazil have called on national leaders to implement political reforms and curb corruption.
“We would like to see not only electoral reforms, but also political reforms,” they said, “in order to fight the corruption that is corroding the institutions of the Brazilian state,” the bishops said in their Oct. 27 statement.
They expressed indignation at the slow pace and lack of will on the part of lawmakers to carry out the political reform promised by Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff during her inaugural speech.
Corruption must be fought by combating impunity, the bishops underscored. “Those who are guilty must be investigated and brought to justice. If a person is innocent, his good name and standing in society should be regained, but when a person’s guilt is proven, he or she should be punished,” the bishops said.
Their statement came amid increasing complaints against the Rousseff administration, which has seen five cabinet members resign over charges of corruption in the last 10 months.