Venezuelan bishop: 'Pandemic
exacerbating country's socio-economic crisis''
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| One of many families settled in a house made with mud, sticks and tin sheet, in a vacant lot, since they can no longer afford to pay rent in the municipality of Sucre |
As faith-based organizations pray together for an end to the
pandemic, Bishop Mario Moronta of San Cristobal says the socio-economic
situation in his country is increasingly serious.
By Vatican News
The sheer numbers of families, migrants and vulnerable
people living on the margins of society and in need of humanitarian assistance
in Venezuela grow by the day.
According to San Cristobal Bishop Mario Moronta, Vice
President of the country’s Catholic Bishop’s Conference, the coronavirus
pandemic has compounded the suffering of millions of poor people as it impacts
even the most basic charitable activities.
Bishop Moronta told Vatican Radio that members of the
Venezuelan Interreligious Social Council are praying together on Wednesday for
the end of the pandemic.
Interreligious Social Council
The recently set up Council was established by
representatives of Christian churches (Catholics, Evangelicals, Anglicans and
Adventists), the Jewish community and a group of social organizations, to
provide an inclusive forum that aims to contribute to the mitigation and
solution of the serious problems Venezuelan society is experiencing.
At a time in which Latin America has become the new
epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, Venezuelan health care institutions
crippled by the lack of medical supplies and medicines are unable to cope with
the over 4,000 registered infections.
The crisis is striking a country where a quarter of the
population needs humanitarian assistance, over 90% of families live in poverty,
and where the borders are stormed by thousands of migrants in search of work
and basic necessities.
Faith-based organizations assisting the poor
Bishop Moronta said that in the face of the enormous
challenges posed by the situation, faith-based organizations are engaged on the
frontlines in the name of universal kinship, at the service of the poor.
He said that in an ecumenical and interreligious approach,
believers are committed to practicing charity and giving witness of solidarity
in the certainty that “all of us are children of the same human family, and all
of us believe in God. So, not only with prayer and praise to the Lord, but also
in concrete action we are working together for the integral development of the
whole of society.“
“Whatever our religious tradition, we are brothers and
sisters, we all belong to the same family,” he said.
The Bishop of San Cristobal described the conditions of poverty
and hunger as growing more serious every day. He explained that the quarantine
measures imposed by authorities to help curb the spread of the virus are adding
to the difficulties of those who are in need of basic aid.
“It is not easy to visit people and families to bring them
relief,” he said, adding that more than 12,000 Venezuelans are trapped along
either side of the border with Colombia, and cannot move because of the
restrictions.
“Thank God that the Diocese of Cùcuta has a large aid
programme in place with which it is trying to deal with the situation,” he
said. But, throughout Venezuela, he continued, church organizations are doing
their best to “visit, help, accompany and support the many in need.”
As Venezuela faces this most critical time, Bishop Moronta
said the Church is focussing on three main areas: the first is raising
awareness regarding the importance of staying healthy, both physically and
spiritually; the second, preparing for the post-pandemic period through prayer
and refection "as it will surely bring about a shift in lifestyle";
the third, particularly for the Church, the challenge of being ever closer to
the people with a sign of hope in the name of the Lord.
Beatification of José Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros
Finally, Bishop Moronta gave thanks for the news of the Pope
Francis's approval for the beatification of the Venezuelan layman, José
Gregorio Hernandez Cisneros.
The fact that this figure who dedicated his life to the poor
and the least, he said, brought joy and hope in a moment in which it is sorely
needed.
“To reaffirm, to renew that preferential option for the
poor, of which this new blessed was truly an example, in this difficult time
for Venezuela,” is particularly significant, he said.
And revealing that in Venezuela Hernandez Cisneros is
referred to as "the Doctor of the Poor, precisely because of his
commitment and solidarity towards those most in need," Moronta said, “This
news engages us all: it will be a great encouragement to be living witnesses of
charity and faith,” just as he was.
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