The Venezuelan Church and Crime

The whole world knows that Venezuela faces a very serious problem: crime. All of us Venezuelans have been affected in one way or another by robberies, kidnappings or murders, which increase more and more every year. The government, which bears the first responsibility for ending this problem (since it has the material resources, the police and the judiciary), has not been able to solve this scourge, which has become a kind of many-headed monster (all the more so if we include the prisons).

Alongside this problem, and many others our suffering Venezuelan people are living through, which they do not deserve, our Catholic Church has for many years been working quietly and tirelessly, in every corner of the country!, educating millions of children and young people in human and Christian values, especially in the many Catholic schools (where the waiting lists are long, because parents know their children receive a formation in values there) and in the parishes, where more and more faithful come every day for spiritual and/or material help. The work the Catholic Church is doing in Venezuela is so great that you can see from a mile away the physical toll on those who are there giving their lives to serve others, just as Jesus Christ taught us. And it serves ALL the Venezuelan people, without social or political distinction. It is worth pointing out that our Church is working with very little, because it does not have enough resources for so many needs.

I think it is fitting today to recall how in 2009, when the reform of the Education Law sought to remove religion from schools, the Catholic Church mobilized as never before to urge that it not be approved, because one of its possible consequences was an increase in crime. That appeal was ignored, and the law was passed, leaving many children in Venezuela without religious education and depriving many families of the Church’s support in the mission of raising their children, in a country where both father and mother have to be out working very hard just to survive. We have seen how, since 2009, crime figures have risen significantly.

Today our Catholic Church is one of the most respected and credible institutions (in Venezuela and in the whole world) thanks to the admirable work and example of our bishops, starting with our Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino, who have become true leaders of peace and defenders of the dignity of the Venezuelan people. They have constantly called for non-violence and Peace. In January 2010 the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference wrote a “Pastoral Letter on the Problem of Violence and Insecurity.” And there have been thousands! of homilies calling for respect for life, non-violence, dialogue based on truth, reconciliation and Peace.

Added to this, there have been excellent initiatives in the country from family and youth ministries and others, and from priests, men and women religious, missionaries and lay people, with educational campaigns on values. Since 2002 there have been massive campaigns of prayer and of praying the rosary in every sector of Venezuela (political, social, military and so on), calling for Peace and for the unity of all Venezuelans. This constant sowing of values and prayer is what has, in a way, held back even greater violence than what we already live with.

It is very important for everyone to know that the Venezuelan Catholic Church has managed to keep united a people some have tried to divide. It makes our country proud to see how, in the huge demonstrations of faith held to honor the Nazarene, the Virgin of Coromoto, the Divina Pastora, the Virgin of the Valley, the Virgin of Chiquinquirá and so on, our people pray together as children of God and as the brothers and sisters they are: Venezuelan brothers and sisters! It is truly moving to see how Catholics of every political and social persuasion (including our soldiers) take part with devotion and great love in these events the Church organizes to give glory to God. The Catholic Church has been vital in lowering the levels of polarization and violence, sowing faith, hope and charity throughout our homeland!

All I can do is thank all the Catholics who, with their boundless dedication, remain determined to bring the message and the Peace of Christ to all Venezuelans. God is watching what is happening in our country and must be very proud of our Venezuelan Church. So let us carry on with our mission, and may God and the Blessed Virgin of Coromoto fill us with abundant graces and blessings.