Church adviser: Venezuelan bishops to keep open dialogue with Chavez

Published: 2006-07-17

BOGOTA, Colombia (CNS) -- Although Venezuelan church officials have many differences with President Hugo Chavez's government, they have resigned themselves to his staying in power and are seeking to build bridges, said the U.S. bishops' adviser on Latin American affairs. "I think the message I got most clearly is that they want to keep open the dialogue with the government," the adviser, Thomas Quigley, told Catholic News Service in Bogota after attending the Venezuelan bishops' annual meeting, which ended July 12. On several occasions, church officials have denounced the government of Chavez, who has been president since 1998 and will most likely be re-elected in December. In April 2002, church officials lent support to a short-lived coup that overthrew Chavez for 48 hours. Church officials have objected to Chavez's close relationship with Cuban President Fidel Castro and the Chavez government's decision to cut traditional government support of the church.

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