CATHOLIC BISHOPS CRITICIZE INDEFINITE REELECTION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 CARACAS 000050

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT PASS TO AID/OTI (RPORTER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/13/2029
TAGS: KIRF PGOV PHUM PREL VE
SUBJECT: CATHOLIC BISHOPS CRITICIZE INDEFINITE REELECTION
PROPOSAL

REF: A. 08 CARACAS 1475

B. 08 CARACAS 1783

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Classified By: A/Political Counselor Daniel Lawton, Reason 1.4 (D)


1. (C) Summary: The Catholic Conference of Bishops (CEV)
issued a January 13 communique sharply criticizing President
Chavez's proposal to change the 1999 Constitution to
eliminate term limits for all elected positions. The CEV
expressed doubts about the legality of Chavez's upcoming
referendum as well as the political wisdom of pressing this
polarizing issue. The bishops also lamented the level of
violence, the continued decay of schools and hospitals, and
public corruption in Venezuela. Just prior to issuing the
communique, Maracaibo Archbishop Ubaldo Ramon Santa Sequera
was reelected to a three-year term. He and the outspoken
First and Second CEV Vice-Presidents have amplified their
criticism of indefinite reelection in media interviews.
Pundits believe that Catholic leaders' opposition to Chavez's
proposed constitutional reform contributed to the defeat of
that proposal in the December 2007 referendum. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Venezuela's Catholic bishops held their semi-annual
conference in Caracas January 8-13. At the end of the
conference, they issued a communique articulating their
concerns with the legality and legitimacy of Chavez's planned
referendum to eliminate term limits. They note that they are
"worried about the attempt to reverse a popularly expressed
opinion (in 2007) and the unusual speed with which the
amendment is being pursued. This could lead to major
political and social confrontations gravely affecting an
already fragile peace." The Church statement further argues
that the proposed referendum is in direct violation of the
Venezuelan Constitution, which prohibits a proposal from
being presented to the public twice in the same presidential
period. (Note: Chavez and his supporters are arguing that
the amendment proposal is different than the failed reform
package. End Note).


3. (SBU) The written statement further expresses the Church's
concern about the inability of Venezuelan authorities to
address the increasing level of violence that has plagued the
country. They note that "Today Venezuela is one of the most
violent countries in the world... It appears that human life
is worth nothing here. This violence is aggravated by the
inability of security officials and the police to confront
crime and due to deficiencies in the Judicial system
resulting in further impunity." The CEV also lambaste what
they perceive to be deteriorating conditions in Venezuela's
schools, hospitals, and prisons, while noting that public
corruption and the quest for power among public officials
further threaten social peace and stability in the country.


4. (SBU) CEV President and Maracaibo Archbishop Ubaldo Ramon
Santa Sequera, in a January 11 interview published by the
opposition oriented Universal newspaper, stressed that
Venezuelan Bishops are concerned about the continued
polarization of Venezuela and the direction the country is
taking. He stopped short, however, of criticizing the
Venezuelan president directly. Ubaldo also expressed his
fear that given the marked political polarization of
Venezuelan society, his remarks could be misinterpreted as
political in nature, rather than as moral concern for the
country. He, newly elected CEV Vice President and Merida
Archbishop Baltazar Enrique Porras Cardozo, and reelected CEV
Second Vice President Robert Luckert, have reinforced the
points contained in the CEV communique in recent local press
interviews.


5. (C) Comment: Although the vast majority of Venezuelan's
are Catholic, few attend church regularly. Nevertheless, the
Catholic Church enjoys widespread credibility in Venezuela
and the Catholic clergy is active nationwide, including in
pro-Chavez neighborhoods. Pundits believe Church leaders
contributed to the defeat of Chavez's constitutional reform
package in December 2007. Just as they did in 2007, the
Bishops stopped short of telling parishioners to vote "no,"
but their sharp criticism of both the substance of the
proposed amendment and the procedure for moving ahead with a
referendum make it very clear where they stand. While CEV
President Ubaldo and Cardinal (and former CEV First Vice
President) Jorge Urosa tend to choose their words carefully,
the new CEV First and Second Vice Presidents are among the
most outspoken clergy critical of Chavez's increasing
authoritarianism.


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