The Latin America Catholic Church Episcopal Council,
Celam, sent a strong message to the political establishment saying it is
painful to see so many people victims of the narcotics trade and so
many young people disenchanted with institutions because of corruption.
Celam held its XXXIII two-day Ordinary Assembly in Montevideo.
Four years ago fully aware of the changing world, God
marked the route when in Aparecida, Brazil “he told us to decisively
promote at all levels the missionary service dedicated to life” said the
Catholic bishops from Latin America and the Caribbean message.
“Evangelization in our continent in these new times is a continuous
and persistent path of open doors, but also of not few obstacles”, adds
the message.
“It hurts us in the soul that so many people are killed, victims of
the violence caused by the narcotics trade. It hurts us in the soul our
young generations disenchanted with the institutions that have lost
their credibility because of the rampant corruption”, underline the
continent’s bishops.
“We feel called to take forward a new evangelization that lifts the
fallen, includes the excluded of our communities, heals the injured and
responds to those who ask where God is in the midst of so many
calamities”.
The assembly elected Archbishop Carlos Aguiar Retes, president of the
Mexican Episcopal Conference as the new head of Celam for the 2011/2015
period.
Aguiar Reyes takes over from Cardinal Raymundo Damasceno Assis, also head of the Brazilian Episcopate.