AMERICA/BOLIVIA - The Council of the laity: our challenge is to have a leading role in building a culture of peace

Wednesday, 3 November 2021 violence laity peace civil society

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Sucre (Agenzia Fides) - "In no sense can we accept that with aggression we can solve problems, on the contrary our challenge is to have a leading role in building a culture of peace, according to our values and fundamental principles of Christian life": this is how the Statement of the Bolivian Council of Catholic Laity, which bears the date of November 1st begins, addressed "to the noble people of God".
In the text, sent to Fides, the Council recalls that "respect for life is a fundamental principle of the human condition", and this reality calls us, as God's people, members of the same body, "to reflect about our actions in the face of the different forms and levels of violence in our society". Hence some statements: "As lay people, and even more so as citizens, according to our constitutional law, we are called to take care of and protect life and the family. As a Church, we will always defend life from the moment of conception, because God is the one who gives life. It is essential to strengthen the human values that lead us to live a life free of violence, deepening the fight against all types of violence from the family and our society".
Then they call for dialogue to find solutions to problems: "The way to solve problems is not violence with violence, we urge all institutions to avoid violent actions against our Church or the brothers and sisters who are part of it, and in the same way we invite everyone to dialogue in order to find solutions, being active, proactive, open to listening and respecting the profession of faith and freedom of worship, since we are a secular state, recognized by our political constitution". Finally, the message recalls that "as lay people and citizens, we are an active part of our society", and "we are called to be salt and light in the world, so in our country we must all make an effort and try to stop aggressions and be instruments of unity and peace". (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 3/11/2021)