AMERICA/VENEZUELA - Mgr. Parra robbed during a parish meeting: "Money is spent on many things, but not on safety"

Ciudad Guayana (Agenzia Fides) - "We cannot continue like this, I do not see concrete action against violence", said His Exc. Mgr. Mariano José Parra Sandoval, Bishop of Ciudad Guyana (Venezuela) after being robbed, along with other 50 people during a parish meeting on 27 January. "Everything was quiet around 8 pm in the auditorium of the Virgen del Valle parish, in Ciudad Guyana, but when I walked in I was told to lie on the floor", said the Bishop to the local press. "I spoke with the governor to tell him that we cannot continue like this. Money is spent on many things, but not on citizen safety", said Mgr. Parra.
The pastor, who attended the meeting with two other priests, pastors of neighboring parishes said that since the beginning of 2015 this is the fifth time that thieves have stolen in the parish. "We cannot close the churches", said the Bishop who concluded: "we need to teach children to live without violence. But one thing is certain, we do not live well in the Venezuelan society".
Despair and lack of security in the cities of Venezuela is pushing youth groups to attack people also for a few dollars. Urban delinquency has increased and many believe it is the consequence of the terrible economic situation that crosses the country. (CE) (Agenzia Fides 30/01/2015)