«The disadvantage of the country, from violence in the streets to government crisis, show the situation in which we live … despite the situation we have the opportunity to build the country with dignity and according to the values of our culture and our faith»: this is the beginning of the document of the Bishops of Puerto Rico who, during their meeting of the Ordinary Assembly, reflected on the socio-political and ecclesial situation of the country, as reported in the pastoral message sent to Fides News Agency.
The Bishops recall the themes proposed by the National Pastoral Assembly of 2015: family, youth, public education, health, and poverty. Today they present themselves as urgent work for the whole society. «There are new factors that do not help, indeed they call for urgent intervention in the consideration of our analysis: migration that divides families, economic management of the country and the lack of government programs for these social problems», write the Bishops.
«After a national mobilization, capable of showing the democratic character of the population», «we must urge the leadership of our people and institutions to develop a national project of integral development. We need political leaders who are able to work coherently and for the people», reads point 10 of the document.
Faced with the situation in Puerto Rico, the Bishops write: «a consensus and a genuine process is required. An authentic moral revolution is needed because there is a lack of trust and transparency». In the end, regarding the lack of help for the poor and the homeless caused by the hurricanes Irma and Maria, the Bishops ask for a definitive solution. «The indolence and corruption of some officials, among the authorities, still today discourages the community, especially the poorest», they write denouncing the causes for which the intervention of aid to the most injured was «postponed».
The text concludes with an invitation to prayer: «As believers, we all pray to the Lord, as a Church we pray that the authorities will be able to govern and give peace and serenity to our people».
The document is signed by all the Bishops of the Episcopal Conference, with the date of 6 November.
