Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS148
2007-01-23 16:47:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:  

CHAVEZ CONFRONTS CATHOLIC CHURCH; EPISCOPAL

Tags:  PGOV PHUM VE 
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TAGS: PGOV PHUM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CONFRONTS CATHOLIC CHURCH; EPISCOPAL
CONFERENCE STANDING FIRM

REF: A. CARACAS 000053

B. CARACAS 000052

C. CARACAS 000062

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Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)

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HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARATMENT ALSO PASS AID/OTI (RPORTER)

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TAGS: PGOV PHUM VE
SUBJECT: CHAVEZ CONFRONTS CATHOLIC CHURCH; EPISCOPAL
CONFERENCE STANDING FIRM

REF: A. CARACAS 000053

B. CARACAS 000052

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Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)


1. (C) Summary. Venezuelan Catholic Church leaders have
become increasingly vocal defenders of democratic freedoms
since President Chavez' re-election on December 3, 2006. In
recent statements to the media and via formal Episcopal
Conference communiques, they have repeatedly expressed
concerns about the direction of President Chavez' "socialist"
plan of government and his decision to close an independent
broadcaster. The Catholic bishops appear determined to
continue speaking out, despite vociferous public attacks on
them by Chavez and government intimidation. The Venezuelan
Catholic Church enjoys some state subsidies, but has learned
to survive on diminishing government support. Chavez may be
taking on the Catholic Church so strongly because it is one
of the few remaining independent and credible institutions
that can challenge his radical ambitions, including in
neighborhoods where Chavez derives his principal support. End
Summary.

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Catholic Clergy Speaking Out
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2. (U) Since President Chavez was re-elected on December 3,
2006, the bishops of the Episcopal Conference of Venezuela
have issued a number of public statements registering concern
about Chavez' plans to institute "Socialism in the 21st
Century." Merida Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo
issued a December 5 communique to all Venezuelan priests
critical of the "seduction of populism." In the six-page
document, Archbishop Porras suggested that the government may
be merely placating the poor with "the oil gravy train,
social programs, pressure, official intimidation, and the
unequal application of rules and distribution of resources."


3. (U) The four senior leaders of the Episcopal Conference
subsequently sent President Chavez a December 14 letter in
which they urged Chavez to govern with "respect for
minorities" and to promote "harmony, dialogue, and

understanding" among Venezuelans. The bishops also expressed
concerns about draft Education, Religion, and International
Cooperation laws being considered by the 100 percent
pro-Chavez National Assembly. They asked him to consider
granting amnesty to political prisoners and recommended that
Chavez' eschew "marxist ideology and statism, the results of
which have been negative in the countries where they have
been applied."


4. (U) The bishops issued both opening and closing
communiques for the January 7-13 Episcopal Conference
highlighting their concerns. Episcopal Conference President
and Maracaibo Archbishop Ubaldo Santana Sequera's January 7
opening statement underscored the Church's defense of "a
plural, respectful, harmonious, and participatory democracy
that resolves the big problems of the most impoverished
sectors and denies benefits to no one." He specifically
exhorted the Chavez government to reconsider the decision to
close the independent broadcaster RCTV, and numerous bishops
echoed his comments in pointed remarks to the media (Ref A).
Archbishop Santana also lamented that "Venezuela is bleeding
on all sides from violence, insecurity, organized crime,
hired assassins, and irregular armed groups that operate on
the border (with Colombia)."

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Chavez Lashing Out
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5. (U) At the January 8 televised swearing-in ceremony for
his new cabinet, Chavez reacted sharply to Church criticism
of his RCTV decision. He urged Cardinal Urosa Savino to stay
out of politics ("the shoemaker should mind shoes") and
citing Marx, warned the Church against becoming an "opiate of
the people" (Ref B). Chavez continued his harsh public
criticism of Church leaders during his January 10
inauguration speech (Ref C). Pointing to Cardinal Urosa,
Chavez said the Catholic church leadership represents the
vestiges of the "hidden dictatorship" of previous
governments. He urged Church leaders to study Marx and Lenin

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in order to better minister to their flock. "The state
respects the Church," bellowed Chavez to a standing ovation
inside the National Assembly, "but the Church must respect
the state." He added his judgment that Episcopal Conference
VP and Coro Bishop Roberto Luckert is going to "hell."

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Church Standing Firm
--------------


6. (SBU) Undeterred by Chavez' rhetorical attacks on the
Church and personal insults of senior bishops, the Episcopal
Conference, in the name of the entire Catholic clergy in
Venezuela, issued a tough January 13 communique. The
communique notes that since independence, the Venezuela
people have chosen "liberty and the division, autonomy, and
the succession of state powers." The document exhorts the
BRV to respect "political pluralism" as it pursues
constitutional and legislative changes. Noting that there
are some situations in which the bishops "cannot be silent,"
the bishops pledged to continue commenting on issues that
affect human rights, education, freedom of expression,
ideological exclusion, unemployment, and the judicial system,
among other social issues.


7. (C) Barcelona Bishop Cesar Ramon Ortega told PolCouns
January 12 that Venezuelan bishops will continue to speak out
in defense of democratic principles, even if the message is a
"bitter one" for the BRV. Reflecting on the recent visit of
a seminary classmate from Cuba, Bishop Ramon Ortega said the
Cuban people have been "martyred" by Castro, and said the
Church does not want the Venezuelan people to be similarly
treated. Responding in the media to Chavez' insult, Bishop
Luckert told the media that he hopes President Chavez brings
checkers with him so the two could "play together in Hell."
He also expressed concern that Chavez' personal attacks on
senior clergymen would incite Chavista violence against them.


8. (C) Episcopal Conference Secretary General and Puerto
Cabello Bishop Ramon Jose Viloria told poloff January 16 that
the Catholic Church is not seeking confrontation with Chavez,
but also said the Church leaders would continue to speak out
in defense of democratic values. He expressed concern that
the BRV would engage in the "hidden violence" of intimidation
against Church activists, adding that he suspects the BRV was
involved in the unsolved April 22, 2006 murder of Father
Jorge Pinango Mascareno. He accused Chavez of engaging in a
deliberate strategy of trying to foster divisions among
church leaders (Chavez frequently cites San Cristobal Marco
Tulio Ramirez as an example of a "good bishop") as well as
create a gulf between bishops and their congregations.


9. (C) Bishop Viloria said he does not perceive any new
cabinet members disposed to real dialogue. He noted that new
Interior and Justice Minister Pedro Carreno delivered a
tough, private address to the Episcopal Conference after
Chavez' speeches. Viloria said Carreno warned the bishops
that they are out of touch with their flocks because a
majority of Venezuelan Catholics voted for Chavez. Carreno
also accused the Church of failing to impart ethical values
and thus being responsible for the rise of crime in
Venezuela. Searching for something positive to say, Viloria
noted that Carreno did ensure speedy resolution of a Church
complaint regarding a government body that claimed to have
may a payment to the Church, but had not.

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State Subsidies Shrinking
--------------


10. (C) Viloria also noted that the Catholic Church is
increasingly less dependent on government subsidies. Direct
subsidies have not been increased since they were set by an
agreement with the Vatican in the 1960's, and the BRV has
reportedly reduced these payments. Viloria said that Puerto
Cabello received less than $3000 in 2006. The Catholic
Church does receive state subsidies for Catholic schools,
which Viloria said "provide a better education at less
expense" than government-run schools. He also acknowledged
that the BRV may seek greater control over Catholic schools
under the guise of education reform. In addition, Viloria
expressed concern that the BRV's proposed Law of
International Cooperation could effectively eliminate
international support for Venezuelan Catholic Church
institutions and programs. The Catholic Church does receive

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considerable support from international sources, including
the American Conference of Bishops and other American
Catholic partners.

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Comment
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11. (C) President Chavez is probably confronting the Catholic
Church so strongly because it is one of the few remaining
institutions in Venezuela that can and will publicly
challenge Chavez' "socialist" plans. A substantial majority
of Venezuelans are at least nominally Catholic, and the
Catholic Church continues to enjoy substantial credibility
among Venezuelans, according to local polling. More than two
million persons reportedly turned out for the January 14
Barquisimeto procession of a historic Spanish statue of the
Virgin Mary (even Venezuelan state TV covered the procession
live). Moreover, the Catholic clergy, unlike most of the
political opposition, have deep roots and residual influence
in poor neighborhoods where Chavez relies on substantial
political support.


12. (C) While the public exchanges between Chavez and the
Church have subsided, continued state-Church tensions are
likely to fester as Chavez continues to concentrate authority
into his hands and undermine democratic institutions and
freedoms. At the same time, Church leaders, noting that they
must be mindful of the "survival of the Church," are not
predisposed to lead any popular resistance to Chavez'
government plans. Despite their determination to speak out,
Church leaders have not yet publicly commented, for example,
on the pending Enabling Law that will give Chavez broad
authorities to issue executive decrees with the force of law.
We anticipate Church leaders will become especially vocal
whenever the BRV rolls out its plans for an
ideologically-loaded reform of Venezuela's education system.

BROWNFIELD