Cardinal says Venezuela must take blame for 10 election-related deaths
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IMAGE: CNS photo/Garcia Rawlins, ReutersBy Cody WeddleCARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) --Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino said the nation's government must take the blamefor at least 10 deaths related to a controversial election."This is the responsibilityof the president of the republic, the high command, and the ministers," CardinalUrosa told the Caracas newspaper El Nacional July 31. "They will have toexplain this to God" and the courts.Some Venezuelans went to thepolls July 30 to elect members of a Constituent Assembly, a 545-member body chargedwith drafting a new constitution for the country. Venezuelan President NicolasMaduro ordered on the vote May 1, but political opposition and church leadershave questioned the process, which they say overrepresented pro-governmentsectors, ensuring a government victory. They have warned that the newconstitution could establish a one-party state. The opposition boycotted thevote and instead called on its supporters to take to the streets in protest."The ...
IMAGE: CNS photo/Garcia Rawlins, Reuters
By Cody Weddle
CARACAS, Venezuela (CNS) --
Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino said the nation's government must take the blame
for at least 10 deaths related to a controversial election.
"This is the responsibility
of the president of the republic, the high command, and the ministers," Cardinal
Urosa told the Caracas newspaper El Nacional July 31. "They will have to
explain this to God" and the courts.
Some Venezuelans went to the
polls July 30 to elect members of a Constituent Assembly, a 545-member body charged
with drafting a new constitution for the country.
Venezuelan President Nicolas
Maduro ordered on the vote May 1, but political opposition and church leaders
have questioned the process, which they say overrepresented pro-government
sectors, ensuring a government victory. They have warned that the new
constitution could establish a one-party state. The opposition boycotted the
vote and instead called on its supporters to take to the streets in protest.
"The bishops are unanimous
in their rejection of this new assembly, and we are asking the government to
reconsider," Cardinal Urosa told Venezuela news station Globovision the
day before the vote.
On July 27, the bishops
reiterated their rejection of the constituent assembly election in a
seven-point communique and urged the country's armed forces to avoid more
deaths in the streets.
"The primary role of the
armed forces is to maintain peace and order so that all parties can act
rationally and each side can build bridges to overcome the chaos we are living,"
the statement said.
For four months, Venezuelans
have endured continuous anti-government protests that often ended in clashes
with authorities. The conflicts have resulted in at least 125 dead and wounded
nearly 2,000 since protests began in April.
Maduro has said the new
constitution will bring peace while offering few details on how the document
may be structured. Of the more than 500 delegates selected, only a handful are
top government leaders, believed to be those who will lead and make decisions
in the new body. Of the others elected, most are widely unknown rank-and-file Socialist
Party members.
The bishops have warned that the
initiative will only deepen a political and economic crisis in the country.
A three-year economic recession has
resulted in shortages of basic foods and medicines.
"Let us not increase the
suffering and anguish of so many people who want to live in peace," said
the July 27 statement.
The newly elected constituent
assembly was to be sworn in in early August.
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St. Stanislaus of Szczepanów is depicted as the patron saint of Poland in a miniature painted by Stanislaw Samostrzelnik of Mogila. / Credit: Polona Digital Library|Wikimedia|PD-ArtWashington, D.C. Newsroom, May 8, 2024 / 16:53 pm (CNA).Pope Francis during his Wednesday general audience invoked the intercession of St. Stanislaus, patron saint of Poland, for peace in Ukraine and Israel.Addressing Polish pilgrims in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, the pope said: "Today you celebrate the solemnity of St. Stanislaus, bishop and martyr, patron of your homeland.""St. John Paul II wrote of him," Francis went on, "that from high in heaven, he shared in the sufferings and hopes of your nation, sustaining its survival, especially during the Second World War."Francis prayed that the intercession of St. Stanislaus "obtain, even today, the gift of peace in Europe and throughout the world, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East."What does Poland have to do with these wars? This co...
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null / Credit: ShutterstockCNA Staff, May 8, 2024 / 17:23 pm (CNA).A trio of Catholic radio networks has filed a petition against the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over new requirements that will soon mandate that all U.S. radio and television stations publish information about the race and gender of their employees.In a 3-2 ruling in February, the commissioners of the FCC reinstated a requirement that radio stations must annually file a document, known as Form 395-B, that lists the race and gender of their employees.The FCC governs radio stations transmitting on AM or FM frequencies, satellite radio and TV stations, cable networks, and broadcast TV stations. These entities are required to maintain a summary of publicly accessible information known as a public file, with varying requirements among the types of stations regarding what must be contained in the file.The FCC had not required Form 395-B since 2004, following a 2001 ruling by t...
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Servant of God Nino Baglieri. / Credit: ANS/SalesiansACI Prensa Staff, May 8, 2024 / 17:53 pm (CNA).The diocesan phase of the cause of beatification of the Servant of God Nino Baglieri has been closed in Modica, a town in southern Sicily. Overcoming his bitterness due to his quadriplegic condition, Baglieri gave himself to the mission of evangelizing through the means available to him. The closing of the diocesan phase, according to the Salesian News Agency, took place on Sunday, May 5, in Mother of St. Peter church, where a solemn Eucharist was celebrated by Salvatore Rumeo, the bishop of Noto. In his homily, the prelate related that on May 5, 1951, Baglieri received baptism, "becoming a Christian."Regarding the servant of God, he emphasized that "prayer for Nino was everything: Despite his suffering, like a light that shines and burns, he managed to infect others with the meaning of true prayer."Addressing the servant of God in prayer, Rumeo said: "We are grateful t...