Bolivian bishops urge dialogue to get new constitution back on track

Published: 2007-11-19

LA PAZ, Bolivia (CNS) -- Bolivia's bishops have called for "constructive and sincere dialogue" to get the stalemated constitutional assembly back on track and enable the country to "overcome differences and make the transformations that are urgently required." In a statement issued in mid-November at the end of their annual meeting, the bishops said they were "convinced of the need for significant and urgent changes in the country," but warned that change alone "does not guarantee progress, growth and well-being." Protests in Bolivia forced two presidents out of office between 2003 and 2005. President Evo Morales, who took office in January 2006, pledged to end the exclusion of the country's largely poor and indigenous population. But the assembly convened in August 2006 to rewrite Bolivia's Constitution bogged down in a political stalemate between Morales' party and the political opposition. Street protests erupted over demands that the seat of government be moved from La Paz to the southern city of Sucre, and the assembly suspended its sessions.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .