Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Panama City (Agenzia Fides) – The Catholic Bishops Conference of Panama issued a statement at the end of his 187th plenary assembly, held 6 -10 July and attended for the first time by the Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Andrés Carrascosa Coso.
In the statement the Bishops reflect on two questions; the ecclesial situation and the nation's social reality. Regarding the first, they underline three main elements: diffusion, familiarity and implementation of the Document of Aparecida and the Continental Mission, the closing of the Year of St Paul and the opening of the Year of the Priesthood.
“Aparecida cannot be implemented with the Continental Mission and the Continental Mission cannot be achieved without Aparecida” the Bishops say recalling that the “ Continental Mission is not an isolated event for certain times, places or occasions" instead "it is a process to be developed by stages in a framework of space and time so that our Churches are formed of faithful who are not only Christians in name, with devotions, religious objects and processions, but also true disciples who shape their lives according to the Gospel and become leaven in society ”.
The Bishops thank the Holy Father Benedict XVI “for the happy initiative of the Year of the Priesthood ”, encouraging Catholics in Panama “to welcome and promote the initiative so it may bear fruits of holiness in priests, increase esteem and prayers for them, and bring a flourishing of vocations to the priesthood, and a rediscovery of the beauty and the importance of the priesthood and every priest today”. Lastly the Bishops mention the Holy Father's latest Encyclical Caritas in veritate, “which encourages ecclesial reflection on important social questions ”. “the Church does not offer technical solutions to the problems of our times - the bishops recall -, she highlights the great principles upon which to build human development in the years ahead, including the principle of respect for human life, the nucleus of all authentic progress ”.
With regard to the situation in the country, the Bishops speak of a new stage with the new government. However they also denounce persisting “challenges to overcome in the electoral process, such as political patronage, lack of transparency in private funding of campaigns which are too long and use propaganda which is too aggressive”. The Bishops mention social problems to address such “violence, insecurity, impunity, absence of equity, deteriorating school system, rising cost of living vita, and the results of the world economic crisis”. They recall: " this is the time for responsibility, commitment, united efforts. The time to think of the nation, and to forget groups and parties”.
The Bishops say it is fundamental to “fortify governance, assure transparency in public policies and consensus among government sectors, social organisations and citizens, based on economic models which highlight the distributive character of resources and with mechanisms which present to the new authorities the necessity to render account of their work, guaranteeing citizens access to information and participation in decision making which concerns their lives ”. In this regard the Bishops stress the need to respect the National Agreement and the State Pact for Justice.
Lastly the Bishops recall claims from native peoples in recent months, including the Naso people, who demand respect for the lands in the Region and in the towns of Ngöbe and Buglé, affected by hydroelectric plants, connected with livestock farming and tourism. They call on the national government to “tackle the problem urgently to avoid situations of violence and to protect the life and the dignity of these areas which have the highest poverty rate”. (RG) (Agenzia Fides 10/7/2009)
