Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07CARACAS1771
2007-09-07 19:43:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Caracas
Cable title:
CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARING TO OPPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL
how-toVZCZCXRO1492 PP RUEHAG RUEHROV DE RUEHCV #1771 2501943 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 071943Z SEP 07 FM AMEMBASSY CARACAS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9663 INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHWH/WESTERN HEMISPHERIC AFFAIRS DIPL POSTS PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY RUMIAAA/HQ USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001771
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARING TO OPPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
C O N F I D E N T I A L CARACAS 001771
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARING TO OPPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Papal Nuncio Giacinto Berloco told the Ambassador
September 6 that the Catholic Church is concerned with the
"radical direction" of Chavez' proposed constitutional
changes. Berloco said he expected the bishops would be
critical in their evaluation of the proposals in an October
communique -- which will be similar to their July 7 pastoral
letter that questioned the need for constitutional changes.
Berloco said Venezuelan voters would turn down some of
Chavez' proposed changes if they were allowed to vote
line-by-line, but expected voters to approve the changes if
the BRV succeeds in bundling them in one bloc for the public
referendum in December.
2. (C) Sucre Archbishop Diego Padron told POLOFF September 6
that the Venezuelan bishops will conduct a thorough review of
Chavez' constitutional changes with the help of legal experts
before issuing their October communique. He said the bishops
decided not to issue a lengthy critical communique after
their September 5 meeting in Caracas to keep the door open
for some dialogue with National Assembly members. The Church
leadership remains pessimistic that the BRV will engage in
real dialogue, however. Padron also said the Church wants to
make its voice heard later, when greater public attention
will be focused on Chavez' constitutional package.
3. (SBU) The Venezuelan Conference of Bishops' September 6
statement contained thinly veiled criticism of the BRV's
handling of the constitutional change process so far. The
bishops noted that Venezuela's constitution should be a
"peace treaty for the country, and not a declaration of war."
They also stressed that "The constitution does not belong to
one particular group, but all citizens, and therefore should
be the product of national consensus." Caracas Cardinal
Jorge Urosa will lead the bishops' review, along with three
other bishops, including Archbishop Padron.
DUDDY
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
HQSOUTHCOM ALSO FOR POLAD
DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2017
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC CHURCH PREPARING TO OPPOSE CONSTITUTIONAL
CHANGES
Classified By: POLITICAL COUNSELOR ROBERT DOWNES,
REASONS 1.4 (B) AND (D)
1. (C) Papal Nuncio Giacinto Berloco told the Ambassador
September 6 that the Catholic Church is concerned with the
"radical direction" of Chavez' proposed constitutional
changes. Berloco said he expected the bishops would be
critical in their evaluation of the proposals in an October
communique -- which will be similar to their July 7 pastoral
letter that questioned the need for constitutional changes.
Berloco said Venezuelan voters would turn down some of
Chavez' proposed changes if they were allowed to vote
line-by-line, but expected voters to approve the changes if
the BRV succeeds in bundling them in one bloc for the public
referendum in December.
2. (C) Sucre Archbishop Diego Padron told POLOFF September 6
that the Venezuelan bishops will conduct a thorough review of
Chavez' constitutional changes with the help of legal experts
before issuing their October communique. He said the bishops
decided not to issue a lengthy critical communique after
their September 5 meeting in Caracas to keep the door open
for some dialogue with National Assembly members. The Church
leadership remains pessimistic that the BRV will engage in
real dialogue, however. Padron also said the Church wants to
make its voice heard later, when greater public attention
will be focused on Chavez' constitutional package.
3. (SBU) The Venezuelan Conference of Bishops' September 6
statement contained thinly veiled criticism of the BRV's
handling of the constitutional change process so far. The
bishops noted that Venezuela's constitution should be a
"peace treaty for the country, and not a declaration of war."
They also stressed that "The constitution does not belong to
one particular group, but all citizens, and therefore should
be the product of national consensus." Caracas Cardinal
Jorge Urosa will lead the bishops' review, along with three
other bishops, including Archbishop Padron.
DUDDY