Wednesday 19

Cardinal Urosa brands as "rumors" reported links between the Church and drug lord
Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino Wednesday replied to claims that the Catholic Church and drug smuggler Hermágoras González have links by saying that such statements should be "demonstrated with proofs."

"In the meantime, they are nothing but rumors. If anyone in the Church is involved in that, that person should be punished."

Urosa, on the day of Jesus the Nazarene, urged Venezuelans to strengthen their faith in Jesus Christ, repudiate high crime rates in the country and seek national unity.

"We should look for the things that bring us together, and avoid the things that bring us apart. We should reject selfishness and indifference towards other people and try to build a society of brothers where there is room for everybody and we may live in peace."

Thursday 20

Cardinal Urosa rejects violence in Venezuela
On the occasion of the Holy Week, Caracas Archbishop, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, invited the Catholics to take part in religious ceremonies to reassert their faith and voice the importance of religious experiences.

"Let us work to reaffirm the value of life is above violence and crime. Let us reassert that the love of Christian charity is above selfishness, exclusion, discord, and aggression."

Regarding increasingly higher crimes rates in Venezuela, particularly in Caracas, he made a call to attach importance to people's life and greatness. Further, Cardinal Urosa Savino rejected violence at home, in the community and in public life.

"Decidedly we have to say yes to life and definitely we have to say no to death, hatred, and violence," the Caracas Archbishop told daily newspaper El Universal in an interview.

Friday 21

Caracas Bishop: "We cannot continue to hate each other"
After reading the Seven Words Sermon, Caracas Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Luis Tineo on Good Friday said that while not easy it was "necessary to forgive" in order to reach reconciliation among Venezuelans.
 
"We cannot continue to live hating each other. We are the disciples of this Man who is with and empowers us to forgive one each other."

He stressed that Venezuela is going through a time when people have opposed views, violence is an everyday problem, and people are downhearted. However, he claim, the key to find a solution is "forgiveness."

"We have to give each other a second chance. Forgiveness is not just another virtue, but it is a necessity. We have to know how to forgive and ask for forgiveness."

Maracaibo Archbishop asks politicians to ponder over electoral promises
Monsignor Ubaldo Santana, the chair of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference (CEV) on Good Friday asked the candidates running for municipal and regional elections next November to "ponder over" the electoral promises they are to make.

Santana described the Holy Week as an auspicious time "to think about such matters in the presence of God," Efe quoted.

"In this Holy Week, they should sit in the churches' benches, in front of God, and think about the things they are going to offer to citizens," said the CEV chair.

Santana, who is the Archbishop of Maracaibo, northwestern Zulia state, advocated coexistence and tolerance among people with different political trends.