Bishops warn of humanitarian crisis and impoverishment in Venezuela

A Venezuelan Episcopal Conference (CEV) today warned of the “general impoverishment” in Venezuela and called for urgent free and transparent elections as a way to overcome the serious political and social crisis.

“ We prove that the political climate of the country continues to worsen, marked by polarization, lack of institutionality and the restriction of democratic guarantees [...]. The country requires free and transparent elections, with an impartial National Electoral Council and an independent Supreme Court of Justice”, alert the bishops in the pastoral exhortation “Meeting, Listening and Communion”, released at the end of the CXXVI Plenary Ordinary Assembly.

In the document, the Catholic Church makes a critical diagnosis of Venezuelan reality, stressing that the population suffers the impact of a “humanitarian crisis” marked by the loss of purchasing power, the destruction of pensions and failures in essential services such as electricity.

“ We reaffirm that the Church does not remain alien to the pain of her people, [...] we contemplate with concern the widespread impoverishment, the violation of human rights and the suffering of Venezuelans, both inside and outside the country, due to violence, the slow procedure with political prisoners [...] as well as institutional abandonment”, explains the CEV, urging “to put human dignity above any situation”.

The CEV points out that education goes through a “tragic and deep structural crisis”, with poor salaries of teachers, precarious schools and high desertion. In health, he denounces the “persistent shortage of supplies” and insufficient salaries of medical staff, recalling that ecclesial charity “does not replace the fundamental obligation of the State”.

Economically, the CEV notes that the people do not have decent wages, but rather “a wage compensation through bonuses, the spraying of pensions, the distortion caused by the use of multiple currencies [...] and labor informality”.

“ All this generated a deep inequality where most do not cover the basic basket. To this situation is added the very serious problem of the electrical system, which deeply affects the quality of life of Venezuelans. We look with concern that, despite the ‘economic protection’ [of the USA], the revenues of oil production did not have an impact on the common good of the Venezuelan people,” they stress.

Despite the scenario, the CEV says it finds “signs of hope”, highlighting the release of political prisoners — which “must continue so that no one is detained for thinking differently” —, greater freedom of expression for the press, the reduction of extortive stop operations and oil recovery.

As lines of action, the bishops propose the strengthening of the Human Rights Vicaries, the creation of a “national agreement based on truth, forgiveness, justice and reconciliation” and the repeal of laws that restrict the work of NGOs.

“ We call on all Venezuelans to join in a major plan of national reconstruction: an integrating, democratic and ethical path that leads us to lasting peace”, the document concludes.