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Plans to amend the constitution to push Venezuela further along a socialist path have put President Hugo Chavez at odds with many of the country's church leaders. Their opposition may reflect a weakening of the hold that "liberation theology" has had on the region.Catholic bishops have been among the most outspoken critics of the amendments, while many Protestant evangelicals also are concerned about the changes, which include the elimination of presidential term limits.The "reforms" have split the country and led to street protests, some of them violently disrupted. A national referendum on the proposed constitutional changes is scheduled for December 2.In recent months, Chavez has attacked the bishops for voicing concern about the amendments, calling them variously "Pharisees," "hypocrites" and supporters of tyrants. At the same time, the president -- who is himself a Catholic -- has used classic liberation theology language to describe Jesus Christ as a revolutionary and a socialist.Venezuela's Catholic bishops, in a recent statement, voiced concern about the potential for further violence and appealed for calm.But they also defended peaceful demonstrations, rejecting claims that protests are part of a conspiracy to destabilize the state.Archbishop Roberto Luckert, vice president of the Venezuelan Bishops' Conference, has accused Chavez of "picking a fight with everyone."Another top church leader, Cardinal Jorge Urosa Savino of Caracas, said in a television interview that the changes would leave no room for any ideas other than socialism, and would put an end to "freedom of conscience, freedom of opinion, freedom of expression [and] economic freedom. "Savino said the bishops were not taking a partisan position, but "have the duty to speak out with the light of the Gospel and of the church's social teaching about what is happening in the country."Catholic leaders beyond Venezuela's borders also have waded in. Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani called the Venezuelan leader arrogant and disrespectful, and in a significant development last week, the leaders of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Latin America (CELAM) sent a letter expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan bishops, in the face of attacks by "certain sectors."CELAM represents 22 episcopal conferences across Latin America and the Caribbean.To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah....
