Caracas, Venezuela, Mar 9, 2006 / 22:00 pm
The Bishops’ Conference of Venezuela has revealed the names of the members of a newly established commission that will oversee the country’s upcoming presidential elections and will seek to facilitate dialogue among the diverse candidates in an atmosphere of peace and understanding.
Conference spokesman, Bishop Ramon Viloria of Puerto Cabello, said commission members would provide guidance based on the Church’s mission of evangelization to the Venezuelan people during the election season. He said the commission is made up of well-respected bishops and noted lay experts.
Bishop Viloria emphasized that the commission would work to facilitate dialogue among the different political candidates in order to contribute to creating a transparent and trustworthy environment for the upcoming elections. The commission’s long-term goals include putting into place programs based on the recently published Compendium of Catholic Social Teaching.