Bolivian cardinal reiterates call for talks to end political standoff

Published: 2008-04-04

LA PAZ, Bolivia (CNS) -- As Bolivia's bishops began their five-day annual assembly April 3, Bolivian Cardinal Julio Terrazas Sandoval repeated the Catholic Church's call for dialogue to end the standoff between the government and its political opponents. His plea came the day after President Evo Morales met with the cardinal and leaders of the Bolivian bishops' conference and asked them to help restart talks between national government leaders and officials of six of the country's nine states, which are seeking greater autonomy. "The social and political upheaval in which we are immersed has led the parties to the conflict to ask us to facilitate dialogue. We are doing so with simplicity, perseverance and a sincere sense of service to our country, listening to everyone who is involved," Cardinal Terrazas said in his opening remarks at the bishops' assembly. Nevertheless, he said, "I am convinced that it is impossible to facilitate dialogue as long as we see so much mutual distrust, pressure and violence." The cardinal added, "The dialogue for which the country hopes must be clear and constructive" and must take into account "the good of all." Bolivia has been caught in a political stalemate since mid-2007, when it became clear that the delegates to a Constitutional Assembly charged with rewriting the country's constitution were unlikely to meet the year-end deadline for finishing their work.

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