VENEZUELA DEMARCHE DELIVERED: HOLY SEE SHARES USG CONCERNS

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000177

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/20/2032
TAGS: PGOV PHUM KIRF VE VT
SUBJECT: VENEZUELA DEMARCHE DELIVERED: HOLY SEE SHARES USG CONCERNS

REF: A. (A) STATE 157206

B. (B) CARACAS 591

CLASSIFIED BY: Chris Sandrolini, DCM.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

1. (C) Summary: The Holy See shares USG concerns about the
proposed constitutional reforms in Venezuela and supports
statements made by the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference and by
the Latin American Episcopal Council (CELAM). As CELAM speaks
for all of Latin America bishops' conferences, the Holy See does
not expect national episcopal conferences to issue separate
statements. The Holy See is pessimistic about the outcome of
the December 2 referendum. While the Vatican wishes to have
good relations with the Government of Venezuela, tensions
remain. End summary.


2. (C) Embassy poloff delivered on November 16 the demarche on
Venezuelan democracy (reftel a) to Monsignor Angelo Accattino,
the Holy See's Secretariat of State Andean affairs director.
Accattino (protect) agreed with our talking points, but was
pessimistic about a "no" victory in the December 2 referendum.
While the Church commands moral authority and influence over
Venezuelan Catholics, Accattino said, the Government of
Venezuela (GOV) has managed to convince the poor that whatever
Chavez proposes is in their best interest, notwithstanding
economic indicators that are starting to show otherwise.
Attempts to raise awareness about the truth have to first
overcome this presumption. At the same time, Accattino added,
it is not the role of the bishops in Venezuela to constitute
themselves as a political bloc. He expressed his hope that the
opposition would become better organized to fulfill its
political role and stand up to the government as needed.


3. (C) According to Accattino, the Holy See wishes to have good
relations with the GOV for ecclesiastical reasons (i.e., the
everyday operation of the Church in the country). During the
last Nuncio's term these relations reached a nadir. With the
new Nuncio the relationship has slightly improved, but tensions
remain. Accattino noted that the GOV is still not allowing a
student leader who was granted sanctuary at the Nunciature last
March (reftel b) to leave the country, despite repeated Holy See
appeals. The Vatican is also troubled by the virulent GOV
response to the Venezuelan Episcopal Conference denunciation of
the proposed reforms. Accattino welcomed CELAM's letter of
solidarity with the bishops of Venezuela. Because CELAM brings
together all of the Latin American episcopal conferences, he did
not expect individual Latin American conferences to issue
separate statements of solidarity. Accattino noted that CELAM
and episcopal conferences worldwide issue statements without the
Holy See's involvement (Note: Accattino was not aware of the
reported recent visit of Venezuelan bishops to Rome. End note.)


4. (C) Comment: In terms of Church-State relations, the Holy
See now considers Venezuela the most problematic country in the
region. While sympathetic to our efforts to preserve democracy
in the Bolivarian Republic, the Holy See is unlikely to take an
active role in encouraging national episcopal conferences or
Catholic organizations to speak up about Venezuela. It will,
however, defend the right of the Church to express --often
through the authoritative voice of bishops-- its moral views on
important social and political issues in any given country,
particularly in those with large number of Catholics. End
comment.

ROONEY