Dialogue for
Peace in the Society
“Blessed are those
who work for peace” (Matthew 5:9)
Our Country is stirred up in the face of so much corruption,
violence, hunger, and impunity. For quite some time, many of us Hondurans have
come denouncing social injustice.
The Church has raised its voice in many occasions through
the Bishops’ Conference, bishops and priests in their dioceses, [those who
live] the Consecrated Life and faithful lay Christians, speaking prophetic
word, denouncing so much sin, and announcing the Reign of God where justice,
respect for the life and dignity of human beings, the promotion of the common
good, and the inclusion of the neediest might become a reality.
We cannot be indifferent in the face of the cry of a people
who weeps for those who have died by so much violence, who suffer poverty for
lack of employment, and who see their children leave in a migration which
separates families and uproots people from their faith and their culture, a
migration which is forced because there is nothing to eat or death by homicide
stalks them, devouring each day many Hondurans.
Therefore, we as members of the Bishops’ Conference,
representing the Catholic people, pilgrims here in Honduras, we unite ourselves
with all those who struggle for a better Honduras and we proclaim that there
cannot be peace without social justice, fraternity without reconciliation,
solidarity without compassion for the poorest, social harmony without
eradicating impunity, nor progress without throwing out the corruption which
does so much evil to all of us.
In a country where many moral, judicial, and labor rules
have been broken, for the purpose of benefiting a few who unduly enrich
themselves, we believe that one must follow the courageous path of eradicating
organized crime, delinquency, and drug consumption which causes so much
destruction for the young and their families.
The institutional strengthening of the State is urgent and
necessary, especially the Public Ministry[1].
We cannot be quiet in the face of the sad case of Social Security[2] in
which thousands were and still are victims. We also cannot be silent in the
face of the unfinished purification of the National Police, in the face of
hired assassins, extortion, or the badly-named war tax,[3]
which so many of the population suffer.
In whatever democracy, the only way to solve differences is
dialogue, which is open, respectful, and sincere, with capacity for listening
and which provides concrete and verifiable solutions which benefit society. All
of us should assume our share of mutual responsibility in this critical moment
of our history. We are grateful that the international community wishes to
accompany us in this process, respecting our sovereignty and proper values.
We have learned from the Gospel of Jesus Christ and from the
Social Doctrine of the Church that the way to attain the dignity of the human
person and the inclusion of the poorest – the disposables as Pope Francis puts
it – consists in living with a heart infinitely merciful who makes the option
to save all and which, without rejecting anyone, seeks the Reign of God.
Honduran Bishops’
Conference
Tegucigalpa, 2 July
2015
[1] El
Ministerio Público (the Public Ministry) is responsible for advocating for the
victims of crimes. (Note of the translator.)
[2]
The Honduran Social Security Institute (IHSS) is responsible for the health
needs of Honduran workers. (Note of the
translator.)
[3]
Several of the gangs impose a war tax on businesses where they are or demand a
“war tax” from bus and taxi companies. (Note of the translator.)
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The original can be found here:
http://www.iglesiahn.org/images/comunicados/DIALOGOPARALAPAZSOCIAL.pdf
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