CHAVEZ LASHES OUT AT CHURCH LEADERS -- AGAIN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 001465 SIPDIS SIPDIS HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER) E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PHUM SCUL VE SUBJECT: CHAVEZ LASHES OUT AT CHURCH LEADERS -- AGAIN REF: A. CARACAS 000534 ¶B. CARACAS 000256 ¶C. CARACAS 000206 CARACAS 00001465 001.3 OF 002 Classified By: ACTING POLITICAL COUNSELOR DANIEL LAWTON, REASON 1.4 (D) ¶1. (C) Summary. Catholic Church officials on July 7 issued a pastoral letter strongly criticizing the Chavez government and questioning the need for proposed changes to the 1999 Constitution. The Venezuelan president responded by denouncing Venezuela's Catholic bishops publicly, while lauding Catholic clergy members who embrace socialism and "liberation theology." Church officials are respectfully -- and so far unsuccessfully -- seeking a dialogue with Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela (BRV) officials. Privately, they concede that Chavez' attacks are scaring away donors and volunteers, while BRV policies are reducing state funding for their schools and social programs. Church-state tensions are likely to continue once Chavez releases a formal package of proposals to change the 1999 Constitution. End Summary. -------------- Episcopal Conference: No to Marxist Socialism -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Catholic Episcopal Conference (CEV) released on July 7 a four-page "Pastoral Exhortation" sharply critical of the Chavez government. Citing their obligation to provide a strictly religious perspective on social issues, particularly the government's suggested proposals for constitutional reform, the Venezuelan bishops warned against the "establishment of a socialist system founded on the theory and practice of Marxism-Leninism." The bishops also qualified that "neither savage capitalism nor Marxist socialism are the paths that help construct a more just society." In addition, the bishops flatly stated, "Venezuela needs the current constitution to be applied, not a new one." ¶3. (SBU) In the same pastoral letter, the Bishops criticized the "anti-democractic" removal of Radio Caracas Television network (RCTV) from the non-subscription airwaves and expressed support for students who peacefully protest against government decisions that violate fundamental freedoms. Urging Venezuelans to pursue "dialogue and reconciliation," they expressed concerns about growing corruption and political clientalism, Venezuela's high crime rate, and social and public health problems. They specifically rejected the "disqualifying, offensive, and disrespectful" language of government officials aimed at dissenters. They also urged that religious education remain part of the public school system. -------------- Chavez: Bishops Are Pharisees -------------- ¶4. (SBU) President Chavez responded by lashing out in recent public speeches and by trying to divide the Catholic Church into "good" and "bad" clergy. During his remarks at the July 18 swearing-in ceremony of new Defense Minister Army General Gustavo Rangel Reyes, Chavez reiterated that he believes that "Christ's philosophy is profoundly socialist" and that the "authentic Christian cannot be anything but socialist; and if one is not socialist, one cannot be Christian, but rather is (living) a lie." Chavez once again accused Venezuela's bishops of being "oligarchs" on the side of "tyrants who exploit people." Chavez conveyed his regard to "the many truly Christian priests who walk with the people," and called the rest of the Catholic clergy "hypocritical Pharisees." ¶5. (SBU) During his July 22 "Alo, Presidente" broadcast, Chavez rebuffed "bishops' attacks" on his government and his proposed ideas for constitutional reform. He urged Venezuelan Catholics (nominally over 90 percent of the population) to "take the path of liberation theology" and to ignore "bishops who are walking around lost." The Venezuelan president added that he believes Venezuela's bishops have "lost the harvest" and compared them to the "extreme right that defended the dictatorship of Pinochet." When Chavez first heard in early July that the bishops were evaluating the need for constitutional reform, he called them "perverted" and "little politicians." -------------- Catholic Clergy Standing Firm Publicly... CARACAS 00001465 002.3 OF 002 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Asked to respond to Chavez' criticisms of the Catholic bishops by the media, members of the Episcopal Conference have so far publicly stood their ground on substance, while at the same time reiterating their interest in dialogue with the government. Episcopal Conference President Ubaldo Santana told the media July 22 that the bishops' criticism is not intended to harm anyone but rather to secure "the best government officials possible." He lamented that the Chavez government has not opened a "calmer" dialogue with the Church. Father Aldo Fonti, Deputy Secretary General of the Episcopal Conference, said the SIPDIS personal attacks on the bishops offend "all Catholic people" and urged the BRV to accept a dialogue based on "mutual respect and trust." ¶7. (SBU) Bishop Roberto Luckert, the Vice President of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela, was more outspoken. He told the media that President Chavez' constitution reform proposal to do away with presidential term limits is a "barbarity." Luckert added that it seems like Chavez thinks "we Venezuelans are foolish and ignorant, and that we don't understand that this is part of Fidel's (Castro's) example..." Ovidio Perez Morales, President of the Plenary Council of Venezuela, told the press that Chavez' attacks on the Catholic clergy have become "a type of presidential custom." -------------- ...But Feeling the Pressure Privately -------------- ¶8. (C) Privately, Catholic Church officials tell us that they are concerned about Chavez' open hostility to the Catholic Church. Jose Gregorio Guarenas, a Church human rights defender, told POLOFF July 23 that Chavez' attacks on Catholic bishops have affected social programs affiliated with the Church. He noted that some donors and volunteers have started to distance themselves from Church-run social organizations, such as Caritas and the Church's Human Rights Office. In turn, a Caritas leader told POLOFF recently that a Catholic priest expressed concern about her participation in an upcoming USG International Visitor Program (IVP), fearing political repercussions from the BRV. ¶9. (C) Guarenas also told POLOFF that the BRV is reducing its subsidies for Catholic schools, including schools in poor areas. Constantino Noe, the Episcopal Conference's National Coordinator for Education, reports that Miranda state has informally barred religious instruction in all public schools, and two states have ceased contracting Catholic personnel to assist with religious instruction. Noe said the Church fears that Chavez intends to rewrite Article 59 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees that parents will receive a religious education for their children consistent with their beliefs, to prohibit any religious instruction in public schools. -------------- Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) President Chavez' most recent attacks against Catholic bishops follow similar attacks in March and January (Reftels). Whenever Church leaders have expressed concerns about the direction or performance of his government, Chavez has responded with vitriolic, personal attacks. He continues to try to discredit critical messengers rather than actually dispute the substance of their criticism. Although typically thin-skinned toward criticism, Chavez may be overreacting to the Catholic bishops' concerns because the Catholic Church remains one of the few independent and influential institutions in Venezuela capable and willing to chide Chavez and oppose his radical plan of government. Chavez has delayed the release of his proposals for constitutional reform, but promises to release his ideas "soon." Church-state tensions are likely to continue during the upcoming constitutional reform debate. FRENCH