Aid to the Church in Need: "I OWE MY FREEDOM TO PRAYER!" PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS TALKS TO AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED

"I OWE MY FREEDOM TO PRAYER!" PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS TALKS TO AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED

Posted by Press Release on 24/1/2003, 9:36 am
Message modified by board administrator 25/1/2003, 7:04 pm

PRESS RELEASE
"I OWE MY FREEDOM TO PRAYER!" PRESIDENT OF LATIN AMERICAN BISHOPS TALKS TO AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED
"I owe my liberation from the hands of the rebels to prayer and to the Most Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God." The words are those of Bishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal, Bishop of the diocese of Zipaquirá in Colombia and president of the Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM). He was speaking during a recent visit to the international headquarters of the international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need, about his abduction last year. On November 15, four days after he was captured, government troops succeeded in freeing the bishop from the hands of his kidnappers, the Armed Revolutionary Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Speaking about the general situation of the Church in Latin America, Bishop Jiménez spoke of the great optimism that had prevailed at the beginning of the new millennium. This had been particularly strong in the light of the painful experiences of the last 70 years of the previous century, when many of the countries on the continent had been ruled by military dictatorships and human rights violations of every kind had been a daily occurrence. Even today many Latin American countries were still plagued by serious economic, social and political crises, the bishop added, citing Argentina, Venezuela and Colombia as examples. "The Church is facing major new challenges. Evangelisation continues to be essential, in good times as in bad. In this the commitment of the laity is of particular importance," the bishop observed, pointing to the difficult situation of the family in Latin America. "The policies of many of our governments are anti-family in that they promote divorce and abortion." Worst of all however was the poverty, he stated. "Economic and social need is the major problem of Latin America today. The distribution of wealth is scandalously unjust and as a result the number of the poor is increasing alarmingly." The Church was doing her best to help, for instance through food kitchens and a range of other social, charitable and pastoral aid projects. However, her own resources were limited and, as for the political structures, it was neither within her power nor was it her task to change these. "The poverty of so many people is the result of corruption and economic mismanagement, and is itself a breeding ground for violence. This in turn has a political motivation," said Bishop Jiménez, and he described kidnapping for political ends as a "diabolical device." The only thing that could truly help was a life lived in Faith and prayer, he added.

In conclusion, the President of CELAM thanked Aid to the Church in Need for the help it has given Latin America over more than 40 years, and he asked all our benefactors for their prayers and offerings for the suffering Church on this continent.
For further information please contact
Phillip Collignon
Head of Information Department
Phone/Fax:02 9679-1929
email: info@aidtochurch.org
website: www.aidtochurch.org

Photo: Bishop Jorge Enrique Jiménez Carvajal, of the diocese of Zipaquirá, who is also President of the Latin American Bishops' Council (CELAM), during a recent visit to the headquarters of the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need in Germany.

This message is locked.

Responses are not allowed!

Aid to the Church in Need PO Box 6245 Blacktown DC NSW 2148 ABN: 62 418 911 594
Ph/Fax (02) 9679-1929 e-mail: info@aidtochurch.org web: www.aidtochurch.org