The what?? Divine Shepherdess? Like the Divine Miss M?
Posted on 01/25/2006 10:34:34 AM PST by Pyro7480
Venezuela nearing Marxist dictatorship, cardinal says
Jan. 16 (CNA/CWNews.com) - In one his harshest criticisms to date of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, Cardinal Rosalio Castillo Lara accused that country’s government of having “lost its way” and of showing “signs of dictatorship.”
The retired Salesian cardinal presided at the traditional procession of the Divine Shepherdess—a popular Marian devotion that draws millions of people every year—through the downtown streets of Barquisimeto. Although he focused most of his homily on Marian devotion and the Catholic roots of Venezuela, Cardinal Lara launched his criticism of the Chavez regime at the end of his remarks. “On this solemn occasion I ask that we all together fervently pray to the Divine Shepherdess to save Venezuela,” the cardinal said. “We are facing an extremely grave situation like few others in our history.”
"A government democratically elected seven years ago has lost its democratic way and shows signs of dictatorship, where all powers are in the hands of one person who exercises them in an arbitrary and despotic way," Cardinal Castillo added, “not for the purposes of bringing about the greater common good of the nation, but rather for a twisted and archaic political project: that of implanting in Venezuela a disastrous regime like the one Fidel Castro has imposed on Cuba, at the cost of so many human lives and the progress of his nation.”
“The seven years of this government,” he warned, “provide abundant proof of what the future of Venezuela will be like if this regime continues in power.”
Pointing to the risks of a continuing Chavez government, Cardinal Lara noted that “dissidence, which is barely tolerated, is in many cases persecuted. Courts hand down unjust sentences in the name of the law. There are dozens of political prisoners, while common crime increases and reaps a tragic sum of 10,000 murders per year. Corruption—which they promised to radically eliminate— is spreading in the face of silence and complacent inaction by the General Comptroller of the Republic, resulting in the creation of thousands of new millionaires. At the same time, poverty is increasing, unemployment is widespread,” the cardinal stated.
Cardinal Lara also warned that “the extremely high price of oil, which would allow many problems to be solved, is being used instead to fund multi-million dollar gifts to obtain uncertain political loyalty from other nations, while in Venezuela we are painfully feeling the lack of interventions and projects to equip hospitals with what they need, to repair communication channels and city streets, to build housing and schools.”
Cardinal Lara said a future with Chavez would be “a very grave situation that could be compared to the cholera outbreak of 150 years ago that led to the miraculous intervention of the Divine Shepherdess.”
“If the Venezuelan people fail to grasp the seriousness of the situation and fail to categorically speak out in favor of democracy and freedom, we will find ourselves subjected to a Marxist-style dictatorship,” Cardinal Lara said in conclusion.
The actions of different clerics may be inconsistent, but the teaching of the Church isn't. She has taught that Communism and Marxism are evil ideologies
After sticking his finger in Chavez's eye let's hope there is not one more. Brave man, this Cardinal.
You have a problem with Catholics praying to the Virgin Mary?
If you don't care then why are you commenting.
Get a load of these protestants.
Or, you could obey Christ's instructions and example by praying to the Father. :-)
To Jesus by the Holy Spirit!
Most "Reformist" Christians think prayer is an act of worship only due to God. The Catholic Church, on the other hand, believes in the intercession of the saints, and asking/praying to the saints, asking them to pray for us is a laudable practice.
God the Holy Spirit works so that a person knows Jesus. That doesn't mean that He works by Himself and/or exclusively.
It's just a matter of time. Personal property and religious freedom go first.
I don't believe it. If there was anything wrong with Hugo Chavez certainly Harry Belafonte wold have told us.
The what?? Divine Shepherdess? Like the Divine Miss M?
Oh, I see. And unless you've murdered someone you can't stand in judgement of a killer. And unless you've lived an absolutly spotless life you can't pass judgement on someone's actions....(Ted Kennedy, call your office.)
No. I'm just sick of misguided "Reformist" Christians spouting their propaganda every time the Virgin Mary is mentioned in a Catholic context.
Ping!
“The seven years of this government,” he warned, “provide abundant proof of what the future of Venezuela will be like if this regime continues in power.”
The American bishops can learn from this courageous cardinal.
Only in public. The Church in Latin America takes it cues from Oscar Romero, Cardinal Hummes of Brazil, and Lara of Venezuela.
Besides, JPII never said that the Church should not stand in solidarity with the people; only that social justice should not be wed to a marxist approach of "from all according to his ability, to all according to his need."
If you'll notice, Lara is condemning Chavez's Marxism as dangerous, as he should.
Sudden? Remember Pope John Paul II and Solidarity? Or "On Atheistic Communism"?
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