AMERICA/CHILE - Love for God, one's neighbor and country: on September 4 the Chileans called to a "historical decision for the future"

Santiago (Agenzia Fides) - Ahead of the referendum meeting scheduled for next Sunday, September 4th, on the draft of the new Constitution, the Standing Committee of the Chilean Bishops' Conference published a message on August 29th in which they addressed the "historical decision for the future of Chile". They appeal to "the ethical and religious sense that lives in the soul of the great majority of Chileans" and invite the citizens to "put an end to violence in all its forms" and to be "builders of unity and peace".
"Faith in God and commitment to a common father is a legacy of our country, which has always been a source of unity and solidarity", is what is written in the message -. Love for God, for one’s neighbor and for the country, are the forces that must lead us along paths that build social peace and leave behind tensions and conflicts that affect coexistence and democracy, to make way for concord, prosperity and unity".
Referring to the public debate in recent weeks on the draft of the new Constitution and the guidelines already given by the bishops in the light of the Gospel and the Magisterium of the Church, the message emphasizes that these days are for everyone "a moment of personal , family and community reflection, whose horizon must be directed towards the future of Chile and towards the need for the country to embark on paths that will allow the wounds to be healed and the fractures in our national coexistence to be repaired". In this context, the bishops also emphasize the importance of dialogue between the different generations, calling for "expression of one's opinions at this crucial moment for the nation" and "exercising the right to vote", as "expressions of love for Chile, its people and its future".
"We are all aware that the debate on the Constitution has revealed the serious challenges that we face as a nation, which have been expressed in social, political and economic demands", the bishops said, regretting that "not the cohesion and unity that many had expected was achieved", because "the polarization of political and ideological positions became very evident". However, one should not be discouraged, "because Chile, as it has proved throughout its history, has a vocation for peace and unity".
The message of the Bishops invites "to continue working for the good of Chile": "accepting the results of the referendum, regardless of which option receives the most votes", "avoiding any kind of violence". Everyone, especially those involved in public life and politics, is asked to "broaden their vision and think together about what can lead us to a more just, fraternal and less unequal Chile, with better opportunities for all its inhabitants".
From July 18 to 22, 2022, the Chilean bishops discussed the text of the new constitution in the light of the social teaching of the Church during joint consultations. In the guidelines released subsequently, the bishops paid tribute to the constitutional text in relation to social rights, the environment and indigenous peoples, while criticizing norms that allow for abortion and leave open the possibility of euthanasia, "which undermine the concept of the family that restrict the freedom of parents to educate their children and that place certain limits on the right to education and freedom of religion". (see Fides, 25/7/2022). (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 30/8/2022)

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